The Seoul prosecutors investigating alleged bribery in the Grand National Party’s leadership elections said they would now focus on tracking down the source of the funds used.
Parliamentary Speaker and former chairman of the ruling Grand National Party Park Hee-tae is under suspicion of bribing fellow lawmakers to win the party leadership race in July 2008.
On Jan. 4, Rep. Koh Seung-duk revealed that a candidate for the party’s chairmanship attempted to bribe him days before the July 3, 2008 vote. On Sunday, Koh told the prosecutors that the candidate was Park.
According to Koh, a yellow envelope containing 3 million won ($2,600) and a business card with only the name Park Hee-tae written on it was handed to his secretary by an unidentified man. Koh said he returned the money to Park through his aide on July 4.
Having only Koh’s testimony to go on, the investigators are said to be focusing on financial records of Park and his close aides.
According to reports, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office reinforced the investigation team on Monday bringing in prosecutors from financial and tax investigation teams as they track down the source of the funds used in the alleged bribery scheme.
With the investigators looking into the origins of the funds used in the alleged bribery, those involved in the allegations could be investigated for violation of the Political Fund Act in addition to offences under the Political Parties Act.
In addition, the prosecutors’ office is said to be considering summoning Park, setting a new precedent.
While former parliamentary speakers have been investigated by the prosecutors’ office in the past, no parliamentary leader has been summoned while in office.
Although former speaker Kim Soo-han was investigated by the prosecutors while in office, he was able to avoid the summons.
However, observers speculate that Park may not be spared being summoned in light of public sentiment.
If prosecutors decide to go through with summoning Park, he is likely to be summoned after he returns to Korea on Jan. 18, but before the start of the Lunar New Year holidays, which begin on Jan. 22.
Park is currently touring four Asian nations to meet with his counterparts.
By Choi He-suk (
cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)
