Investigators looking into allegations of bribery in the Grand National Party’s leadership election in 2008 are honing in on bank records of Rep. Park Hee-tae’s campaign aides.
According to reports, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office investigating the case has begun tracking bank accounts of those who worked for Park during the campaign, including that of a man identified by the surname Cho. Cho is a former aide to Park, and was in charge of finances during the campaign.
In addition, investigators are looking into the official bank account used in the campaign.
The National Assembly speaker has been accused of bribing GNP lawmakers in the run up to the party’s chairmanship election in 2008. Park won the race and served as the GNP’s chairman until September 2009.
According to allegations made by the GNP’s Rep. Koh Seung-duk, Park attempted to bribe him with 3 million won ($2,600) just days before the voting.
The money was handed to Rep. Koh’s secretary by a man who is suspected of being Park’s former secretary Koh Myung-jin.
Koh, whose home was raided by the prosecutors on Wednesday, has denied that he made the delivery but admitted he received the money when Rep. Koh’s aide returned it.
Investigators have also questioned An Byung-yong, chief of a district-level GNP council.
An is suspected of handing over 20 million won to five members of district councils for the purpose of bribing 30 GNP officials.
The investigators, however, have uncovered documents that include the names and contact information of those suspected of being bribed.
In addition, investigators have secured the e-mail records of Koh and other officials in charge of funds during the campaign from the National Assembly.
By Choi He-suk
(
cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)
