Hyun Young-hee, an independent lawmaker who was formerly affiliated with the ruling Saenuri Party, faces expulsion from the National Assembly as she received a suspended prison term on Friday for bribing her way into the parliament.

Hyun was charged with giving 50 million won ($45,766) to a former ruling party official, Cho Ki-moon, in return for securing her a spot on the proportional representation ticket ahead of the April general elections.

Hyun was expelled from the party in August as the criminal investigation into the money-for-nomination scandal dealt a blow to the party ahead of the crucial December presidential election.

The Busan District Court sentenced Hyun to two years in prison, suspended for three years, and also ordered asset forfeiture worth 48 million won. She was also ordered to pay 3 million in fines for separate election violations. (Yonhap News)