Saenuri lawmaker undergoes 14 hours of questioning

Rep. Hyun Young-hee of the ruling Saenuri Party denied allegations that she bribed her way into parliament after being questioned by prosecutors for about 14 hours until early Tuesday morning.

Emerging from the Busan District Prosecutors' Office in the southeastern city around 5:40 a.m., Hyun told reporters that she had "sincerely responded (to the questions) and the truth will soon be uncovered."

On Monday, before Hyun's voluntary appearance, the Saenuri Party decided to expel Hyun and another party member, Hyun Ki-hwan, a member of the party's now-defunct nomination committee during the April's general elections, apparently out of fear of the scandal's negative impact on December's presidential election.

Hyun Young-hee, the first-time lawmaker who has been based in Busan as a member of the local city council, is accused of giving 300 million won (US$266,310) to Hyun Ki-hwan ahead of the general elections to become a lawmaker on a proportional representation ticket.

"The prosecution will soon decide whether to request another summons," a prosecution official close to the investigation said, adding that they will also determine if they will take any legal action against her. (Yonhap)