Ex-UPP leader summoned over primary rigging scandal

A former progressive party leader refused to answer during questioning by prosecutors on Friday over her alleged involvement in an election fraud scandal ahead of the general elections in April, she said.

Lee Jung-hee, the former co-chairwoman of the minor opposition Unified Progressive Party (UPP), returned home around 3:10 p.m. after undergoing five hours of questioning at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (SPO) in southern Seoul.

"The right not to provide any testimony is every citizen's right guaranteed by the Constitution. I exercised my legitimate right," the lawyer-turned politician told reporters before leaving the office.

Three of her aides have been under investigation on suspicions that they rigged a crucial voter survey to help her win the single opposition candidacy for a parliamentary seat in Seoul's Gwanak district.

Lee was grilled over whether she had known about the alleged tampering and ordered the aides to manipulate the survey, according to prosecution sources.

The UPP and the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) chose single joint candidates for the elections based on the results of telephone surveys asking voters which contenders they favored.

Lee eventually won the Gwanak race, defeating her rival from the DUP, but dropped out after revelations about her aides' involvement in manipulating the competition results. She also resigned from her leadership post in May, taking responsibility for other alleged instances of election fraud involving the party.

The former lawmaker, however, has denied any role in the alleged public survey rigging, saying her aides carried out the act without her knowledge.

As Lee kept exercising the right to remain silent, prosecutors said they plan to decide whether to take legal action against her early next week, without summoning her again.

Meanwhile, a sitting UPP lawmaker will be summoned next week in connection with a separate election fraud allegation, prosecutors said Friday.

Prosecutors have notified Rep. Lee Seok-ki to appear before prosecutors on Tuesday for questioning over allegations that he inflated costs of services provided to politicians while running an election campaigning agency.

The agency named CN Communications is suspected of exaggerating its campaign expenses for UPP candidates for the 2010 local elections, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors already raided the private offices of the left-leaning lawmaker Lee as part of their probe into the fraud. (Yonhap)