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[Alpha Biz=(Chicago) Reporter Kim Jisun] The Human Rights Protection Office (Director Kim Hyung-joo) at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office raided Hwang's residence and office on charges of bribery.
Prosecutors found circumstantial evidence that Hwang attempted to bribe prosecution investigator A last year when the Fair Trade Investigation Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office investigated the alleged breach of trust by the group's management, including SPC Chairman Heo Young-in and CEO Hwang.
In December last year, the Fair Trade Investigation Department indicted Chairman Huh, CEO Hwang and SPC General President Cho Sang-ho without physical detention on charges of breach of trust under certain economic crimes laws. He is suspected of selling Mildawon shares held by affiliates Paris Croissant and Shani at a low price in late 2012 to SPC Samlip, a key affiliate of the owner family, with the aim of lowering the Huh family's gift tax.
Hwang's alleged bribery was reportedly found by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's Public Investigation Department 3 (Director Lim Sam-bin) while investigating SPC Group's recent alleged obstruction of labor unions.
The SPC Group is under investigation by prosecutors on charges of engaging in unfair labor practices in 2021 by urging bakers from the Paris Baguette branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions to leave the union and penalizing promotion unlike other union members.
The Seongnam branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor sent 28 executives and employees, including then PB Partners CEO Hwang Jae-bok, to the prosecution in October last year with an opinion of indictment on organized unfair labor practices.
AlphaBIZ 김지선(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
