Prosecutors Finish the Investigation on the Illegal election Campaign Fund

The Central Investigation Department of the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office (Chief Ahn Dae-hee) on April 16 revealed that it will finish its investigation on politicians who are involved in money corruption or in illegal election campaign funds before the opening of the 17th National Assembly (June 5.)

Prosecutors are planning to summon Congressman Rhee In-je of the United Liberal Democrats Party who declined the summons several times and may be issued an arrest warrant as early as next month. Prosecutors are giving strong consideration to a request for an arrest warrant again in case that Rhee, who is under suspicion of receiving 250 million won in illegal funds, does not accept the summons.

Prosecutors said they haven’t decided whether they will give criminal penalty to the 11 politicians who are under suspicion of receiving illegal funds before the 2002 presidential election while switching over to the National Grand Party.

Also, the Second Special Division of Seoul Central District Public Prosecutor’s Office (Chief Chae Dong-wook) was known to have deliberated carefully on Congressman Hahn Hwa-kap of the New Millennium Democratic Party over whether or not to request an arrest warrant again or prosecute without physical restraint. One congressman was issued an arrest warrant in late January for suspicion of having received 40 million won from SK Group at the NMD presidential candidate party election, but the execution of the warrant was cancelled.

jin0619@donga.com