A Camp Humphreys, South Korea, construction site in April 2015. South Korean police have raided the headquarters of a company involved in Camp Humphreys’ expansion over allegations that one of its subcontractors illegally funneled nearly $900,000 to a U.S. military official. (Armando R. Limon/Stars and Stripes)
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean police have raided the headquarters of a company involved in Camp Humphreys’ expansion over allegations that one of its subcontractors illegally funneled almost $900,000 to a U.S. military official.
Authorities seized account books and computer data during Monday’s raid of the Seoul office of SK Engineering & Construction Co. and the company’s worksite at the Pyeongtaek base, according to the Korean National Police Agency.
SK E&C is under contract to provide approximately $600 million in land and infrastructure development at Humphreys, which is undergoing a massive expansion and will become U.S. Forces Korea’s flagship installation in a few years.
SK E&C is clearing and filling land at Humphreys and handling the installation of water, sewers, roads and electrical lines, according to U.S. Forces Korea.
“USFK is concerned anytime there is an allegation of bribery or wrongdoing,” the command said Thursday. “We will continue to fully cooperate with appropriate authorities concerning this investigation.”
An SK E&C subcontractor is suspected of illegally giving about $894,000 to an American military official in 2010, KNPA said. Police have interviewed employees of the subcontracting company, which no longer exists, and are investigating whether SK E&C was involved.
South Korean police have traveled to the United States in an effort to track down the U.S. military official, and have asked U.S. authorities for assistance. It was unclear whether the official is still affiliated with the military.
The KNPA would not provide further details about the raid or the identity of the official because of the ongoing investigation.
