The Busan prosecution said Tuesday it will close its investigation into the ruling party's money-for-nomination scandal after bringing charges against two lawmakers allegedly involved in the scandal.
Hyun Young-hee, an independent lawmaker who was formerly affiliated with the Saenuri Party, and Yoon Young-seok, a sitting legislator of the party, will be indicted without physical detention, prosecutors said.
Hyun was expelled from the party last month as the criminal investigation into the corruption scandal dealt a blow to the party ahead of the crucial presidential election in December.
She will be accused of giving 50 million won ($41,700) to a former party official in return for securing her a spot on the proportional representation ticket ahead of April's general elections, they said.
Prosecutors have raised suspicions that the lawmaker gave about 300 million won in bribes to Hyun Ki-hwan, then a member of the party's committee responsible for nominating proportional candidates, in return for securing the ticket.
Rep. Hyun has also been suspected of giving 20 million won in illegal political funds to Hong Joon-pyo, a former chairman of the Saenuri Party.
Prosecutors, however, decided not to charge both Hyun Ki-hwan and Hong Joon-pyo, which may stoke criticism from opposition parties that the investigation has not been faithfully conducted.
Yoon will be indicted for pledging to give 300 million won to a broker named Cho Ki-moon in return for working as a top manager of Yoon's election campaign during the April elections, prosecutors said. (Yonhap)