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May 03, 2008
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Prosecutors said they think Kim Soon-ae, 58, paid Suh 1.7 billion won ($1.7 million) in exchange for a promise to secure a legislative seat for her daughter, Yang Jeong-nye. Yang received the No. 1 proportional seat from the party last month. In a press conference, Hong Sa-duk, a party member, said Suh will comply with the prosecutors’ summons. But he complained that investigators are presenting the case as if the party leader has already been found guilty of receiving a bribe even before they question Suh. Prosecutors petitioned a Seoul Court to issue an arrest warrant for Kim. But the court refused to issue the warrant last night. The petition said Kim met with Suh alone at party headquarters in Yeouido on the afternoon of March 25. It was at this meeting, prosecutors allege, that an agreement was made between the two. On that night, the petition said, Suh met Kim’s daughter for the first time and agreed to register her as the party’s No. 1 proportional candidate. The next day, Yang made two payments to the party of a “special membership fee” and a “registration fee.” Three more payments were made, totalling nearly 2 billion won. Investigators said Kim had earlier applied to the Liberty Forward Party for a nomination before approaching the Pro-Park United. Investigators said they found evidence that Kim wanted to become a candidate, but she turned in her daughter’s resume at the last moment because of her criminal record. She had been on probation for bribing an attorney. By Lee Min-a Staff Reporter [mina@joongang.co.kr] |
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