Rep. Kang, former NSP head under probe

Prosecutors investigating the election funding scandal questioned Kwon Young-Hae, former director of the Agency for National Security Planning (NSP), Wednesday for the second consecutive day as to whether any politicians were involved in the state intelligence agency`s alleged diversion of funds into election campaign efforts by the former ruling New Korea Party (NKP).

The prosecution plans to indict the former NSP director if he is found to be involved in the scandal. The interim results of the probe indicate that there is a high possibility of his acquittal.

The investigation has so far focused on whether Kwon directed Kim Ki-Sup, former deputy NSP director, to funnel 119.2 billion won in budget funds into the NKP for the 1996 parliamentary elections and 1995 local elections or received advance reports from Kim on the matter.

Kwon reportedly denied this suspicion, contending that Kim and working-level officials masterminded the illegal diversion of funds and that he had played no role in the matter.

Accordingly, the prosecution plans to cross-question Kwon and Kim to determine whether they conspired with Rep. Kang Sam-Jae, then chief NKP election manager, in the alleged election fund plot.

Meanwhile, the prosecution is considering an investigation of Lee Won-Jong, former senior presidential secretary for political affairs under the Kim Young-Sam regime, who maintained close ties with Rep. Kang just before the 1996 general election.

The prosecution said it had completed tracking various bank accounts in a bid to determine the source of the 94 billion won diverted to the NKP during the parliamentary elections. It is now trying to uncover the identities of recipients of the funds, who operated the accounts under false names.