Prosecutors on Thursday indicted two Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmakers on charges of being involved in a cash-for-votes scandal surrounding the main opposition party’s 2021 leadership election. Reps. Heo Jong-sik and Lim Jong-seong were indicted without detention for allegedly violating the political party law in connection with the scandal, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office said. The scandal centers on allegations that the campaign of former DPK leader Song Young-gil distributed cash envelopes totaling 66 million won ($49,499.5) to 20 sitting DPK lawmakers and other party members in the run-up to the party’s leadership election in May 2021, which he ultimately won.
Heo and Lim are suspected of receiving 3 million won each from then DPK lawmaker Youn Kwan-suk, a supporter of Song, in April 2021. Youn, who is now an independent lawmaker after his defection from the DPK, was sentenced to two years in prison by a court last month after being convicted of handing out cash envelopes on behalf of Song. The prosecution said it additionally indicted Youn on charges related to Heo and Lim .Prosecutors, who have so far indicted seven people in connection with the DPK scandal, said they are still investigating 카지노 other suspects.
