Momentum Gained in 'Donbongtu' Investigation... Prosecution Focuses on Identifying Lawmakers Who Received Money

Yoon Kwan-seok and Lee Sung-man Involved in Distribution Likely to Be Summoned Next Week

Kang Raegu, former Standing Auditor of Korea Water Resources Corporation. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The prosecution, having successfully secured the custody of Kang Raegu, the former Standing Auditor of the Korea Water Resources Corporation and a key suspect in the Democratic Party's 'cash envelope' bribery scandal, is focusing its investigative efforts on identifying current Democratic Party lawmakers who received money from the camp of former party leader Song Young-gil.

The investigation entered a new phase after a businessman, initially identified as the 'sponsor' who provided funds for distributing cash envelopes to Kang, testified to the prosecution that he directly handed over the funds to a former aide of Song.

According to the legal community on the 10th, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Young-cheol) summoned Kang for questioning just one day after his arrest the previous afternoon. The prosecution is reported to have intensely questioned Kang about the source of the distributed funds and the recipients of the cash envelopes.

While Kang reportedly admitted to some charges, he maintained that he was not the mastermind behind the scheme. The prosecution plans to indict Kang within the 20-day detention period after conducting supplementary investigations, with keen attention on how specifically the indictment will identify the recipients of the cash envelopes. Previously, the prosecution's search warrants for Kang and others only listed the number of cash envelopes distributed.

Until now, the prosecution has focused its investigation on the givers of the cash envelopes and has been summoning regional headquarters chiefs suspected of receiving the envelopes for questioning. At the same time, it is concentrating its efforts on identifying current Democratic Party lawmakers implicated in the cash envelope receipt.

A prosecution official stated, "We are currently narrowing down the scope," adding, "Of course, there are individuals suspected of receiving cash envelopes, but we need to identify them based on a certain amount of evidence and data." The official further explained, "Identification means reaching a level where charges are filed or the individuals are questioned. As of now, no sitting lawmakers have been charged with receiving cash envelopes."

Meanwhile, the prosecution recently secured testimony from businessman Kim, who is known to have provided funds to former lawmaker Kang, stating that he handed over tens of millions of won in political funds to Park, a former aide of Song, ahead of the 2021 Democratic Party leadership election.

Whether Kim, who was identified by Kang as the sponsor, directly delivered funds to Song's camp, or whether he provided funds to both Song and Kang's sides, will be clarified during the investigation. If Kim's testimony is confirmed to be true, it would serve as evidence supporting the claim that Song, previously thought to be uninvolved with the cash envelope distribution aside from some misconduct by close aides such as former Deputy Secretary-General Lee Jung-geun, was also involved.

Lawmakers Yoon Kwan-seok and Lee Seong-man, who are suspected of involvement in the cash envelope distribution, are expected to appear before the prosecution as early as next week.

The prosecution views this case, which occurred during the Democratic Party's internal leadership election, as a serious matter that undermines the fairness and integrity that must be guaranteed in all elections.

A prosecution official said, "In elections held within political parties, which are blind spots not overseen by election management committees, the evils of money politics are far more severe than in general elections." Unlike elections where ordinary citizens are voters, the influence of delegates or lawmakers is much greater, making their impact on election outcomes decisive. It is reported that the prosecution emphasized this point to the court during Kang's pre-trial detention hearing.

The prosecution applied the Political Parties Act, which regulates bribery in party leadership elections, to this case. The Act stipulates that anyone who gives or receives money or valuables to or from voters during a party leadership election may be punished with imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 6 million won. Those who order, recommend, request, or mediate such acts may face imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 10 million won. A former prosecutor with extensive election investigation experience commented, "If money changes hands during an election, even amounts exceeding 100,000 won often lead to arrest and investigation. This case involves amounts an order of magnitude higher, so it is not a minor matter."

There is speculation within and outside the prosecution that, even if current lawmakers who received cash envelopes are not targeted, the prosecution will move to secure custody of lawmakers Yoon and Lee, who are suspected of involvement in distributing the cash envelopes.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.