The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division is currently summoning and investigating former People Power Party lawmaker Taeyoungho on the 3rd over allegations of so-called 'split donations.'
The Public Officials Corruption Investigation Unit 3 (Chief Prosecutor Park Seok-il) summoned former lawmaker Tae in the morning as a suspect on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and the Public Official Election Act and is conducting an investigation.
Former lawmaker Tae is suspected of receiving 'split donations' from city and district councilors elected in Seoul Gangnam-gu Gap, his constituency, around the 2022 local elections.
The core of the allegation is that he received donations exceeding the annual individual donation limit of 5 million won under the Political Funds Act by borrowing the names of family members and acquaintances.
Since former lawmaker Tae was the chairman of the local party council in the area and could have influenced the nomination for the local elections, there are also suspicions that the donations were made in exchange for nominations.
After related allegations surfaced through media reports in May last year, a civic group filed a complaint against former lawmaker Tae with the Corruption Investigation Unit on charges including violation of the Political Funds Act, and the unit began an investigation.
Immediately after the media reports, former lawmaker Tae held a press conference denying the allegations, stating, "I am proud to have no blemish in fundraising," and added, "The suspicion of a backdoor deal for nomination is so absurd that it is beyond words."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
