A senior presidential secretary, formerly affiliated with the ruling Grand National Party (GNP), on Friday denied as "groundless" accusations that he played a role in a bribery scandal involving an unidentified former party leader who allegedly gave bribes to peer lawmakers to win support.
Kim Hyo-jae, a senior secretary for state affairs to President Lee Myung-bak, dismissed several news reports that said he delivered the bribes to GNP lawmakers on behalf of the former chairman, who allegedly tried to persuade party members to elect him to the chairmanship.
The embarrassing allegations were first divulged by GNP lawmaker Ko Sung-doug. In a media interview earlier this week, Ko said he was given an envelope containing 3 million won ($2,600) sent by one of the candidates for the party chairmanship sometime between 2008 and now. Ko said he returned the money.
"Those allegations are groundless," Kim said. "I haven't exchanged a word or a look with GNP lawmaker Ko Sung-doug since the 18th National Assembly," he said, referring to the current-term legislature that kicked off in 2008.
He warned that those who reported the allegations "may also have to take due responsibility."
Assembly Speaker Park Hee-tae, who was elected to the GNP chairmanship in 2008, also denied a day earlier a series of media reports suggesting him as the suspected candidate.
The internal bribery allegations are ravaging the party of President Lee, now struggling to recover public trust and unity after a major factional conflict was triggered by two key forces -- one behind Lee and another led by former party chairwoman and leading presidential candidate Park Geun-hye.
Ko's revelation drew particular attention as he indicated the suspected candidate was among Lee's royal supporters.
Prosecutors, meanwhile, reportedly plan to question two GNP lawmakers who requested a probe into the allegations as early as this weekend. The lawmakers, heading the party's corps for legal matters, filed the request a day earlier on behalf of the party.
Ko will be called in by prosecutors for questioning over the bribery allegations on Sunday, prosecutors said.
The local political party law allows a maximum three-year prison term or a 6-million-won fine for those who provide money or other favors in order to win votes for a party executive position. Those who mediate or direct bribery during party elections can face up to five years behind bars or a 10-million-won fine. (Yonhap)