The ruling Saenuri Party’s investigation committee for the cash-for-nomination scandal will question Rep. Hyun Young-hee and former lawmaker Hyun Ki-hwan early this week.

The committee was formed as the Busan District Prosecutors’ Office accelerated its investigation by seeking the detention of Jo Gi-moon, a former PR official of the Saenuri’s Busan branch who allegedly delivered bribes from Rep. Hyun Young-hee to former lawmaker Hyun Ki-hwan in March.

It is alleged that Rep. Hyun Young-hee offered the money in exchange for Hyun Ki-hwan’s support in her candidacy to join the party’s proportional representation list. Rep. Hyun Young-hee later won a parliamentary seat as a proportional candidate.

“Hyun Young-hee and Hyun Ki-hwan will be called for questioning in succession,” Lee Bong-hee, a lawyer heading the nine-member committee looking into the scandal, was quoted by a local news agency as saying.

Regarding questions over the committee’s efficacy due to its lack of investigative powers and personnel, Lee said that the committee would do what it can and implement measures the party is capable of.

In a related but separate development, the Saenuri Party is taking steps to remove the two Hyuns from the party.

According to party officials, Hyun Ki-hwan can be removed by the party’s Supreme Council, but the decision regarding Rep. Hyun Young-hee needs to go through the general meeting of the party.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)