Speaker said to have denied giving instructions or receiving report on vote-buying scheme


National Assembly Speaker Park Hee-tae could be indicted without detention over allegations of vote-buying in the ruling party’s leadership election in 2008.

In the early hours of Monday, investigators from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office finished questioning Park at this official residence in Seoul. The prosecutors’ office plans to announce the results of the 16-hour-long questioning within the week.

While the prosecutors have remained relatively tight-lipped about the questioning, authorities are said to be considering indicting the speaker on charges of violating the Political Party’s Act.

Although Park denies any involvement, the investigators are said to have secured circumstantial evidence that indicates that he was aware of the scheme.

However, having failed to obtain testimony confirming that Park had a direct hand in the developments from suspects questioned so far, the prosecutors are considered unlikely to seek an arrest warrant.

Although the scheme has been revealed in some detail, it remains unclear whether Park gave instructions or had information regarding the attempted bribery of Rep. Koh Seung-duk before the Grand National Party’s chairmanship vote on July 3, 2008. The GNP has since changed its name to Saenuri Party following a series of scandals involving senior members.

Koh has alleged that he was given 3 million won ($2,670), which he returned, along with Park’s name card days before the election, by a man who was working for Park’s campaign at that time.

Since Koh disclosed that there was an attempt to buy his support for Park in early January, investigations revealed a wider vote-buying scheme that led back to former presidential secretary Kim Hyo-jae.

An Byung-yong, head of a district chapter of the party, was allegedly instructed by Kim to hand over 20 million won to five members of district councils with instructions to bribe 30 party officials. In addition, the investigations have revealed that An obtained the cash from Kim’s office, and that Kim inquired of Koh about returning the 3 million won.

An has since been indicted and is currently under detention. In addition, Park’s chief secretary for policies Cho Jeong-man, chief secretary for state affairs Lee Bong-gun and Kim are also expected to be subjected to some form of judicial action for their part in the scheme.

By Choi He-suk  (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)