By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Prosecutors have arrested a ruling Grand National Party adviser for allegedly taking 230 million won in bribes from a computer equipment manufacturer in exchange for influence-peddling. The probe is likely to implicate more party officials and presidential aides.
A warrant was issued Monday for Yu Han-yeol, a five-term lawmaker and the son of Yu Jin-san, former leader of the now-defunct New Democratic Party in the 1970s. He and three other GNP members are suspected of taking 550 million won ($550,000) from the company in January in return for helping it win a Defense Ministry contract. Yu allegedly took 230 million won of the money.
The three GNP members, including an aide to President Lee Myung-bak during the presidential election campaign last year, introduced the company CEO to Yu, according to prosecutors.
After receiving the money, Yu allegedly lobbied two top-level party officials for the firm.
Yu first denied the allegations but admitted to taking the money. He said, however, that he returned it after the firm failed to get the government contract.
Prosecutors will question him on if he did return the money and lobbied politicians or ministry officials. They are also searching for three GNP members who fled.
After taking the money, Yu is known to have met senior presidential secretary for political affairs Maeng Hyung-kyu, who was then a member of the presidential transition committee. The two sides, however, gave different testimonies ㅡ Yu admitted to meeting Maeng but denied talking about the firm, while Maeng said Yu asked for a favor for the firm but he refused.
Maeng voluntarily presented himself for questioning Friday.
Yu also sought a favor from party lawmaker Gong Sung-jin. Gong said that at Yu's request, he ordered his secretary to discuss the system supply contract with Defense Ministry officials in charge, but dropped it later after ministry officials said they had picked a supplier in a fair process. Prosecutors have questioned Gong's secretary and ministry officials, and will summon Gong soon as well.
The GNP will refer the bribery scandal to its ethics committee, which is expected to urge Yu to leave the party. Party chairman Park Hee-tae has already issued a public apology over the scandal.