The National Assembly on Thursday approved a motion seeking the arrest of a former opposition lawmaker suspected of taking illegal political funds worth 350 million won.
Of the 298 attending lawmakers, 139 voted in favor of Rep. Park Ki-choon’s arrest while 89 disapproved and five abstained in the secret vote. Five votes were counted as invalid.
The lawmaker was under investigation for allegedly receiving designer bags and luxury watches from a local businessman in exchange for business favors. He defected from the New Politics Alliance for Democracy on Monday for causing concerns for the party.
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| Rep. Park Ki-choon. (Yonhap) |
Following the Assembly’s decision, Park is expected to be called in by a local court to review his arrest early next week.
Last Friday, the prosecution had sought an arrest warrant against him for violating the Political Fund Law.
To arrest an incumbent lawmaker, the parliamentary consent is a must. Korea’s lawmakers are immune from arrest while the National Assembly is in session.
Prior to the vote, Rep. Park said he wanted to be investigated by prosecutors without being detained, saying that he is not a flight risk.
The last parliamentary approval for the arrest of a lawmaker during session was for Rep. Lee Seok-ki, who was charged with conspiring in an armed revolt in 2013.
Meanwhile, lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a resolution to condemn North Korea’s mine-planting that inflicted serious injuries to two South Korean sergeants. The National Assembly’s National Defense Committee unanimously passed the resolution on Wednesday.
By Yeo Jun-suk (jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)
