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| ▲ Park Yong-soo (L), a former aide to former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil, attends a hearing at the Seoul Central District Office on July 3, 2023. (Yonhap) |
election scandal-arrest warrant
Court hearing held on arrest warrant sought for ex-aide to former DP leader Song
SEOUL, July 3 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court held a hearing Monday to decide whether to issue a warrant to arrest a former aide to Song Young-gil, a former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), in connection with a cash-for-vote scandal involving the party's 2021 leadership election.
The scandal centers on allegations that Song's campaign distributed cash envelopes totaling 94 million won (US$71,597) to as many as 20 DP lawmakers and other party members in the runup to the party's leadership election in May 2021, which he ultimately won.
Park Yong-soo, a former aide in charge of fund management for Song's campaign at the time of the election, was accused of involvement in the distribution of 67.5 million won of the total in collusion with other campaign officials to help get Song elected.
Park allegedly received 50 million won from a businessman in April 2021 and delivered 60 million won to former DP lawmaker Youn Kwan-suk, who then distributed the money to about 20 party lawmakers the same month, according to prosecutors. Youn quit the party after the allegations surfaced.
The former aide is also accused of having a sponsor group for Song pick up a 92.4 million-won bill for a public opinion poll conducted ahead of the party election.
The Seoul Central District Court is expected to come up with a decision on whether to issue the warrant for Park later Monday or early Tuesday.
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