Prosecutors Confirm Evidence Against Disgraced Lawmakers-Elect

The Suwon District Prosecutors` Office confirmed that the Creative Korea Party retroactively issued the so-called “Party bonds of love,” worth 590 million won, to two acquaintances of disgraced lawmaker-elect Lee Han-jeong (57, arrested) in mid-April. This happened after prosecutors launched their investigation into irregularities involving the selection of candidates for proportional representation seats, according to sources on Friday.

The prosecution also confirmed that, in addition to the bonds, the party issued an IOU to the two acquaintances after belatedly realizing that only party members were allowed to purchase the bonds.

The prosecution’s findings refute the party’s official stance, claiming that the two acquaintances of Lee purchased the bonds right after Lee was confirmed to have secured the party’s proportional representation seat in the National Assembly. Based on circumstantial evidence, prosecutors believe that a large sum of money that Lee gave to the party was in exchange for a proportional representation seat.

Meanwhile, the Seoul Central District Court held a hearing on Friday afternoon to decide whether to issue an arrest warrant against Kim Soon-ae, the mother of Yang Jeong-rye, the Pro-Park Alliance’s top candidate for a proportional representation seat. Prosecutors notified the party’s chairman Suh Chung-won to report to the prosecutors’ office by Monday. Prosecutors are considering indicting lawmaker-elect Yang without physical detention along with her mother on similar charges.

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