The main opposition Democratic United Party on Wednesday lambasted the prosecution for what it called a politically-motivated investigation targeting its floor leader Park Jie-won. It said the prosecution, while not acting on suspected irregularities involving President Lee Myung-bak and his associates, was clamping down on the opposition in consideration of the presidential election in December.
The Supreme Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday demanded that Rep. Park present himself on Thursday for questioning over allegations of taking bribes from savings banks.
The third-term lawmaker allegedly received almost 100 million won ($87,000) from Solomon Savings Bank chief Lim Seok prior to the April general elections in 2008, according to officials.
Reps. Park Jie-won (left) and Lee Hae-chan, floor leader and chairman of the main opposition Democratic United Party, hold banners saying, “stop politically-motivated investigations” in a rally in front of the National Assembly buliding in Yeouido, Seoul, on Wednesday. (Yonhap News)
He also faces the charge of taking money from Bohae Savings Bank officials, in exchange for stymieing the prosecutorial probe into the troubled bank in 2010-2011. Park was then a member of the parliamentary judiciary and legislation committee.
Should he turn out to have abused his position and exercised political leverage on the prosecution, the lawmaker will also be subject to additional punishment, prosecution officials said.
Park and the DUP, however, accused the prosecution of diverting the public’s attention away from the ongoing election fund probe involving right-wing figures and the presidential office.
“Choi See-joong testified that the illicit money that he received was used as Lee Myung-bak’s election funds, but the politically-motivated prosecution is looking away from the case,” said DUP chairman Rep. Lee Hae-chan on Wednesday.
Choi, former chief of the Korea Communications Commission and one of the closest aides to the president, is currently on trial on charges of taking some 800 million won in bribes from a land developer.
Rep. Park once again declared his innocence.
“No politician, including myself, would take money from the disputed savings banks in the middle of the bankruptcy scandal,” Park said.
He also accused the prosecution of abusing its authority and carrying out a political attack on the opposition camp.
“The prosecutor’s unexpected call came shortly after my parliamentary speech in which I blasted the prosecution for colluding with the presidential office and the ruling house,” said the left-wing floor leader.
The notice also came against the prosecutorial custom of giving prior notice when summoning a politician, he added.
Park refused to respond to the prosecution’s call and demanded an official arrest warrant.
In order for the court to issue a warrant for an incumbent lawmaker, it requires approval from a majority of lawmakers.
The prosecution earlier demanded an arrest warrant for ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker Rep. Chung Doo-un on similar bribery allegations. The parliamentary vote on the motion failed, however, resulting in leadership feuds within the right-wing party.
“Rep. Park should not make excuses to conceal his irregularities,” said the ruling Saenuri Party’s spokesperson Kim Young-woo on Wednesday.
“In order to prove his innocence, he should respond to the probe instead of dodging it.”
By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldm.com)
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
