By Lee Kyung-min
The prosecution indicted former Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo and South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Joon-pyo, Thursday, on charges of receiving illegal campaign funds from the late Keangnam Enterprises Chairman Sung Woan-jong.
The two were among eight politicians mentioned in a memo left by Sung before he hanged himself in April.
However, the prosecution said it could not find any concrete evidence showing six other politicians ― mostly confidants of President Park Geun-hye ― received money from Sung.
The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) criticized the prosecution for allegedly covering up the truth, calling for an investigation by a special counsel.
“The results are disappointing. A special investigation should be launched as soon as possible,” the party said in a statement.
Lee and Hong were charged with receiving 30 million won in 2013 and 100 million won in 2011, respectively, during their election campaigns.
Sung hanged himself while being probed for alleged corruption at his troubled company regarding deals concerning “failed energy diplomacy” during the administration of former President Lee Myung-bak.
“We initially suspected that there was a notebook kept by Sung detailing the list of politicians bribed by him, but concluded that there wasn’t one,” a prosecutor told reporters.
The prosecution said it suspects Roh Gun-pyeong, the brother of the late President Roh Moo-hyun, received 500 million won from Sung in 2008 in return for his presidential pardon in 2007.
However, the prosecution said it dropped the case because the five-year statute of limitations expired in 2012.
The six politicians who were cleared of the allegations are former Cheong Wa Dae chief of staff Kim Ki-choon; Kim's predecessor, Heo Tae-yeol; Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok; Saenuri Party lawmaker Hong Mun-jong; former Cheong Wa Dae chief of staff Lee Byung-ki; and Busan Mayor Seo Byung-soo.
Yet, in a related move, the prosecution will continue to investigate Rep. Kim Han-gil, the former NPAD chairman, and Rep. Rhee In-je of the ruling Saenuri Party over allegations that the two were also bribed by Sung.
The two were not mentioned in the suicide memo left by Sung, but later subject to questioning after the prosecution reviewed seized bank accounts.
The prosecution suspects that Kim and Lee received 30 million won in May 2013, and 20 million won in April 2012, respectively.
The two have refused to appear for questioning, and the prosecution will determine whether to seek an arrest warrant for them.