By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
The investigation into the money-for-candidacy scandal involving a relative of first lady Kim Yoon-ok is widening, with prosecutors moving to uncover possible corruption in the ruling Grand National Party's screening to pick candidates for the April 9 parliamentary election.
The prosecution traced the money flow in bank accounts of Kim Ok-hee, 74, a cousin of the first lady in an investigation through what the opposition called `sistergate.' The cousin was arrested on charges of receiving 3 billion won from the chairman of a bus operators' association after having promised to help him get a place on the GNP's proportional representation system.
She asked the president of the nation's largest senior citizens' organization to recommend the association leader as a candidate to the GNP. Despite the recommendation, however, he failed to win the race ticket.
The cousin kept the money in her bank accounts, according to the prosecution. She claimed she returned 2.5 billion won to the chairman after he did not get the candidacy.
Among the remaining 500 million won, she withdrew 400 million during the GNP's candidate nomination period.
Prosecutors confirmed that she spent 100 million won buying her grandson an imported car, 200 million won in stock investment, and tens of millions of won purchasing a studio apartment.
``So far, we found that most of the 500 million won was used for personal purposes. But some of the money was sent to her son's bank accounts, and we are not ruling out the possibility that the money was used in lobbying politicians engaged in the candidate screening,'' a prosecutor said.
The prosecution also found that Kim did not deposit the 3 billion won immediately after taking it from the chairman, but deposited 1 billion won just before the nomination and 2 billion won right after it. ``We are investigating whether she sent the money to other politicians and got it back after the chairman failed to get the nomination,'' the prosecutor said.
It was also found that Kim had proposed the candidacy to a Seoul Metropolitan Council member, Lee, in January. Lee refused the offer, and instead introduced the bus association chairman to her. It is rumored that Kim had made similar proposals to more lawmaker aspirants.
The prosecution will soon question the association head over how he mobilized the large amount of money. It summoned three people who were also recommended by the senior citizens' group, to see whether their recommendation was also made through bribery.