The prosecution applied Monday for arrest warrants in relation to its investigation into irregularities in the Democratic United Party’s candidate nomination process for April’s general elections.
The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office said it applied for arrest warrants for four people for violation of the Political Fund Act and Public Official Election Act.
The development comes at a time when the prosecutors’ office in Busan is seeking the arrest of Rep. Hyun Young-hee of the ruling Saenuri Party over allegations that she bribed a senior party official for her nomination as a proportional representative.
Prosecutors said Yang Kyung-sook, the former head of a pro-Roh Moo-hyun Internet radio station, defrauded three people into investing several billion won in an unspecified project, promising them DUP candidacy in the April 11 general elections.
The investigators are also said to have secured testimony that Yang promised candidacy while citing the name of an influential DUP lawmaker.
Yang, who is currently an executive of Radio21, was an aide to a former DUP chairperson.
Yang has admitted to receiving money from the three, but is denying allegations that the money was given in return for preferable treatment in the nomination process.
One of the suspects is the head of an organization affiliated to a district office in Seoul, and ran for the office of Gangseo-gu chief in 2007.
For its part, the DUP has said that no evidence of involvement from the party and its lawmakers has turned up.
“As far as we have checked there is no truth, and it is unclear whether those who reportedly provided money have even applied for nomination,” a DUP official told local media.
“While it is true that Yang Kyung-sook is close with pro-Roh individuals, Yang was in no position to influence the nomination process.”
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
