Credit union accused of bribing lawmakers

State prosecutors have launched a probe into allegations that the National Credit Union Federation of Korea provided tens of millions of won to lawmakers as it lobbied for legislation to ease its lending rules.

The prosecution has already searched the office of the credit union for evidence, Yonhap News reported Friday, citing sources in the prosecution and the credit union.

The probe on the credit union comes two months after a similar case involving an association of rent-a-cops, drawing attention as to whether it would expand into a major scandal.

State prosecutors in November raided the offices of 11 legislators who were suspected of pocketing illicit donations from an association of rent-a-cops in exchange for legislative favors.

The prosecution earlier this month indicted six of the lawmakers without detention on charges of violating the law on political funds.

The National Election Commission last month requested the prosecution for an investigation into suspicions that the credit union made the donations to legislators on the National Policy Committee using the names of three of its executives.

Eight lawmakers allegedly received donations of over 10 million won ($890,000) from the credit union. Two of them are suspected of getting more than 20 million won.

A senior official at the credit union denied the charges, however, saying they were personal contributions by the executives.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)