Arrest seen as plot against GNP leader

Home > National > Politics

print dictionary print

Arrest seen as plot against GNP leader

Members of the main opposition Grand National Party were visibly shaken Saturday by the news that U.S. authorities had apprehended Lee Suk-hee, a former deputy commissioner of the National Tax Service who is accused of funneling political funds to the party.

Mr. Lee had been in hiding in the United States since 1998; he reportedly will be extradited to Korea sometime this year. He is accused of using his position with the tax service to solicit contributions to the 1997 presidential campaign of Lee Hoi-chang, the main opposition leader.

But on Sunday, the party went on the offensive against the ruling Millennium Democratic Party. Representative Lee Won-chang, a special aide to the opposition leader, alleged that the ruling party may be collaborating with Lee Suk-hee to pin some of the blame for the fundraising scandal on the opposition leader.

Lee Won-chang also refuted claims by the prosecution that former opposition lawmaker Seo Sang-mok and Lee Hoi-sung, the opposition leader's younger brother, worked with Lee Suk-hee to raise funds for the race.

The ruling party spokesman, Lee Nak-yon, said, "We have no plans to use Lee Suk-hee's arrest for political purposes."

by Lee Sang-il

Log in to Twitter or Facebook account to connect
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
help-image Social comment?
s
lock icon

To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.

Standards Board Policy (0/250자)