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May 24, 2007
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| Two Grand National Party lawmakers were indicted yesterday on charges of accepting bribes from the Korean Medical Association in return for influencing legislation. Ko Kyung-hwa and Kim Byoung-ho, both members of the Heath and Welfare Committee, were accused of violating the political fund law. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office said Ko received 10 million won ($10,737) from Dr. Jhang Dong-ik, then-head of the Korean Medical Association, at the end of December in return for influencing the medical law revision bill. At the time, the legislature was considering changes to the medical law which the association, the largest doctors’ group in the country, opposed. The prosecution said Kim also received 10 million won from Jhang regarding the same legislation. Both lawmakers have denied the bribery charges, claiming that the money was received as donations. The two each accepted the money under the names of 10 different doctors, although the money actually came from the association, prosecutors said. They each filed receipts as if the money was given as a series of individual donations, the prosecution said, adding that such an act violates the law governing political funding. “Even if they were given as donations, Supreme Court precedents make it clear that they can be punished for receiving bribes when the money is related to their jobs,” said Park Chol-joon, a senior prosecutor. “Some lawmakers on the health and welfare committee, who also received donations from Jhang, actually returned the money because they thought it was inappropriate.” The prosecution said it will also file an indictment against Jhang after investigating the lawmakers, but Jhang will not be jailed. The Seoul Central District Court rejected the prosecutors’ request for a detention warrant on Monday, saying Jhang was not a flight risk. Jhang has also been accused of embezzling about 300 million won from the association’s coffers. Prosecutors have been investigating the Korean Medical Association for the last month, along with the Association of Korean Oriental Medicine and the Korean Dental Association, over allegations that lawmakers received bribes from the groups in return for influencing laws. A leaked transcript of Jhang’s remarks at a closed-door meeting with association officials prompted the probe. Jhang was quoted as saying that he had given money to lawmakers to influence legislation. Later, Jhang said his remarks were an exaggeration, but he still resigned from his post with the association. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has finalized the bill and it is pending in the assembly. By Ser Myo-ja Staff Writer [myoja@joongang.co.kr] |
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