ID :
200364
Wed, 08/10/2011 - 11:33
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/200364
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Leftist politicians, union officials indicted in illegal funding scandal
SEOUL, Aug. 10 (Yonhap) -- Three former leftist opposition politicians have been indicted on charges of receiving illegal cash donations from labor unionists, prosecutors said Wednesday.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said they have also indicted 17 officials from domestic companies' labor unions for donating more than 5 million won each (US$4,670) in violation of the current law to the minority Democratic Labor Party (DLP) and two other progressive opposition parties.
Those indicted allegedly breached the political funding law banning corporate labor unions from donating political funds to parties, prosecutors said. Individuals also cannot donate money when it is obvious the money is from corporations or organizations where they belong.
The indictment is expected to bring a strong backlash from the minor opposition parties involved as well as the unions' militant umbrella union, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.
According to prosecutors, a former DLP secretary general is suspected of taking about 740 million won (US$684,234) in illegal donations from 60 unions for one year from December 2008.
A former secretary general of another opposition party involved, the National Progressive Party (NPP), was accused of receiving 170 million won in illegal donations from 10 unions during the same period.
The parties and the unions tried to bypass the law by making the donations look like membership fees paid by their members, prosecutors said. But that was also illegal because those indicted were so-called "sponsoring members" of the parties who can't pay membership fees, they said.
Under the present law, only full-fledged official members can pay membership fees, prosecutors said.
Earlier on Wednesday, prosecutors announced that they have indicted a total of 1,647 school teachers and other civil servants on charges of paying monthly fees to the DLP in violation of laws.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said they have also indicted 17 officials from domestic companies' labor unions for donating more than 5 million won each (US$4,670) in violation of the current law to the minority Democratic Labor Party (DLP) and two other progressive opposition parties.
Those indicted allegedly breached the political funding law banning corporate labor unions from donating political funds to parties, prosecutors said. Individuals also cannot donate money when it is obvious the money is from corporations or organizations where they belong.
The indictment is expected to bring a strong backlash from the minor opposition parties involved as well as the unions' militant umbrella union, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.
According to prosecutors, a former DLP secretary general is suspected of taking about 740 million won (US$684,234) in illegal donations from 60 unions for one year from December 2008.
A former secretary general of another opposition party involved, the National Progressive Party (NPP), was accused of receiving 170 million won in illegal donations from 10 unions during the same period.
The parties and the unions tried to bypass the law by making the donations look like membership fees paid by their members, prosecutors said. But that was also illegal because those indicted were so-called "sponsoring members" of the parties who can't pay membership fees, they said.
Under the present law, only full-fledged official members can pay membership fees, prosecutors said.
Earlier on Wednesday, prosecutors announced that they have indicted a total of 1,647 school teachers and other civil servants on charges of paying monthly fees to the DLP in violation of laws.
