By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Police and prosecutors began investigating two lawmakers-elect from the 18th parliamentary election over the weekend on suspicions of stock price manipulation and illegal electioneering. If tried and found guilty they could be fined 5 million won and have their election results annulled.
The prosecutors questioned Jeong Guk-gyo, Saturday, for having allegedly raked in 30 billion won through stock price manipulation of his high-tech company, Human & Technology.
Jeong earned a seat in the next National Assembly on the United Democratic Party's ticket as a proportional representation lawmaker.
A UDP party spokesman, Park Sun-sook, said the investigation amounted to political oppression on the opposition party. ``Suspicions on Jeong were already cleared by the Financial Supervisory Service and there is no legal problem with the nomination,'' she said.
Meanwhile, local police on Friday raided the home of Kim Il-yoon, elected in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, on suspicion of vote buying. In a dustbin there they found 5 million won in cash, a suitcase and some documents listing people who had been paid.
According to police, Kim and his aides allegedly paid 3-6 million won per person ― 41 million won in total. They said they have secured evidence that Kim's wife and her staff were also involved in paying off voters. To date, 13 people have been arrested and three detained.
Kim failed to get selected by the governing Grand National Party and so deserted to run as part of the Pro-Park Alliance, and won. However, the Alliance ejected him since his actions were reported in the middle of the election campaign. A party spokesman said Kim has been excluded from all party activities and is no longer a member.
Observers say the punishment of the two will set an example for dealing with 35 others accused of illegal electioneering this term. Twenty of them were accused of libel, while eight, three and six have been charged with bribery, illegal promotions and other crimes, respectively.
At the 17th parliamentary elections in 2004, 46 people were indicted on similar charges, and 11 lost their seats after court rulings.