A ruling party lawmaker was summoned by prosecutors Monday over suspicions that he took illegal political funds from a businessman during the 2012 presidential election.
Prosecutors called in Rep. Hong Moon-jong of the ruling Saenuri Party, as part of their investigation into a suspected “bribery list” left behind by Sung Wan-jong, who committed suicide in April.
One of the allegations was that Hong received 200 million won ($180,000) prior to the election from Sung. The lawmaker had served a key post in the election camp for President Park Geun-hye, Saenuri’s presidential candidate at the time.
“I hope that the truth will come out without a single doubt left behind,” Hong told reporters before entering the prosecution office.
Asked whether he took the kickbacks from Sung, the lawmaker said “No.”
Before hanging himself, Sung left behind a memo listing the names of the then Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo, Hong and six other high-profile politicians he claimed to have bribed. All but one listed on the memo are Park’s close associates.
Lee Wan-koo has since stepped down. (Yonhap)
