The prosecution investigating the ‘Democratic Party National Convention money envelope incident’ is expanding the scope of the investigation to include lawmakers suspected of receiving money envelopes after arresting former representative Song Young-gil on the 18th of last month. The subjects of the summons and investigation are approximately 20 active members of the Democratic Party.
Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office./News 1
However, in the past month, only three lawmakers have been investigated by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, including Democratic Party lawmakers Heo Jong-sik and Im Jong-seong, and independent lawmaker Lee Seong-man from the Democratic Party.
According to this newspaper’s coverage, it was reported on the 19th that the prosecution notified at least six other lawmakers of the summons for investigation, but no legislator has yet announced their intention to attend and set a schedule. These are said to be lawmakers who appeared in the so-called ‘Lee Jeong-geun transcript’ as subjects of money envelope delivery (4 people) or were separately caught receiving money envelopes (2 people).
It is known that most of the lawmakers who are not present despite being notified of the summons have conveyed their position to the prosecution that they will not respond to the summons and investigation until the general election is over. One legal expert said, “It’s like they are ‘group boycotting’ the summons investigation by saying the same thing as if they were kissing each other.”
Analysis suggests that the refusal of lawmakers charged with accepting money envelopes to appear for prosecutors is related to the fact that Rep. Heo Jong-sik passed the Democratic Party’s nomination eligibility screening at the end of last year. Rep. Heo was subject to both search and seizure by the prosecution and summons for investigation due to the money envelope incident. One legal expert said, “Since Rep. Heo has been judged eligible for nomination, other lawmakers involved in the money envelope will expect that they will also be recognized as eligible for nomination.” He said, “There is a high possibility that people will think in directions such as, ‘Let’s avoid it for now because it will have a detrimental effect on the general election,’ or ‘It will be advantageous to respond to the investigation after being newly elected.’”
The investigation into the Democratic National Convention money envelope incident began in April of last year and has been ongoing for nearly nine months. With the arrest of former CEO Song, the investigation into providing money envelopes has come to an end, but the full-scale investigation into receiving money envelopes is only just beginning. An official from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said on the 18th, “We are working to conduct an investigation into the lawmakers suspected of receiving money envelopes. There are several lawmakers involved, and we ask you to proceed quickly.”
2024-01-19 05:48:09
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