By Kim Rahn
The prosecution has sought an arrest warrant for Rep. Hyun Young-hee for her alleged buying of a proportional representation nomination ahead of the April general election.
Prosecutors at Busan District Prosecutors’ Office said Wednesday they need to arrest the independent lawmaker, who belonged to the ruling Saenuri Party but was expelled last Friday, on suspicions of violating the Election Law.
Hyun is suspected of giving 300 million won to Cho Ki-moon, an aide to former Rep. Hyun Ki-hwan, and asking him to give the money to Hyun Ki-hwan and other senior party members in charge of candidate selection so that she could get a National Assembly seat.
Prosecutors said the money was part of her husband’s personal funds.
They have yet to confirm whether the money was really given to Hyun Ki-hwan, who strongly denies receiving it.
Rep. Hyun Young-hee is also suspected of offering 5 million won in political funds each to several party members who are close to presidential candidate Park Geun-hye. She used a false name when giving the money.
Additionally, Hyun is facing other charges including submitting false reports about her campaign expenses to the election authority; offering illegal donations to the party’s Busan-based candidates; and making two staffers at her husband’s company work for her during the campaign.
“She is likely to destroy evidence as we found she has contacted Cho frequently after the allegations emerged,” a prosecutor said.
Both Hyun Young-hee and Cho initially claimed she gave 5 million won to Cho for his own purposes, not as a bribe for party officials. But Cho recently told prosecutors that he received tens of millions of won from her but returned it.
To issue an arrest warrant, a local court will have to gain the National Assembly’s approval as Hyun Young-hee is an incumbent lawmaker. The Assembly is expected to vote on this on Aug. 31 at the earliest.