Park Geun-hye's aide grilled over bribery suspicions

By Na Jeong-ju

Hong Sa-duk, a close aide to ruling party presidential candidate Park Geun-hye, was questioned by prosecutors Friday over allegations that he accepted illegal political funds.

The former six-term lawmaker, who worked as co-chairman of Park’s primary campaign team, is suspected of having received some 60 million won ($54,000) from a businessman.

The questioning came after prosecutors raided Hong’s house in late September to secure evidence.

“I will tell everything I know to prosecutors,” the 69-year-old politician told reporters before entering the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in southern Seoul.

The investigation is based on allegations raised by the businessman’s driver, who claimed he delivered the money to Hong.

Hong has flatly denied the bribery suspicions.

The businessman, surnamed Jin, claimed earlier that he never gave money to Hong, saying he would file a defamation suit against the driver. Jin, however, recently admitted that he bribed Hong, seeking to gain influence, according to the prosecution.

The case could be a potential blow to Park and the Saenuri Party, which has been embroiled in a series of corruption scandals involving its members in recent months.

After the prosecution launched an investigation, Hong left the party last month, saying he didn’t want to be a burden to Park ahead of the Dec. 19 presidential election.