Spy Funds Case Builds

Arrest of 4 Opposition Workers Adds Pressure

Following the forcible arrest Saturday of four working-level officials of the opposition Grand National Party, the prosecution is expected early this week to start calling in politicians who in 1996 allegedly received the spy agency's funds, sources close to the investigation said Sunday.

"With Vice President Kang Sam-jae of the opposition Grand National Party rejecting our subpoena, we will probably start summoning the 183 politicians for questioning this week," said a prosecutor who is working on the investigation. Who would be summoned was yet to be determined, prosecutors said.

The prosecution's latest move is exerting pressure on Mr. Kang by closing in on his former aides and colleagues.

Prosecutors arrested four employees of the opposition party. They were: Ahn Sang-jung, an official with the party's spokesman's office; Lee Jang-yon, a personal secretary to Mr. Kang; and Kim Il-sup, a former secretary to Mr. Kang; and Yang Jong-oh, another opposition bureaucrat.

Prosecutors obtained the arrest warrants for the four and two other former aides in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Warrants for the six were sought on the grounds that they allegedly participated in the distribution of public funds from the central intelligence agency's to candidates of the now-defunct New Korea Party's during the 1996 general election.

The New Korea Party evolved into the current main opposition party, the Grand National Party.

Mr. Kang was the predecessor party's secretary-general. During the 1996 general elections, he headed the campaign headquarter's handling of day-to-day affairs, including campaign finances. He was called in for questioning by prosecutors last week but refused to appear.

The prosecutors then submitted a request to the National Assembly that it consent to the arrest of Mr. Kang, a sitting lawmaker.

In arresting Mr. Ahn, prosecutors accompanied police officers and a emergency rescue squad dispatched when one dials 119. With as Mr. Ahn resisting, the police action took six hours, with some 40 opposition lawmakers and officers angrily scuffling.

Prosecutors are claiming that they have evidence, gathered by tracking bank accounts, that Kim Ki-sup, a former senior official at the spy agency, and Mr. Kang worked together to provide funds.