But critics accused the prosecution of fabricating charges for political reasons.

“A few politically driven prosecutors are embarrassing the thousands of law enforcement officials working hard to make our nation safe,” NPAD whip Rep. Lee Jong-kul said. Lee added that the charges were part of an “authoritarian crackdown” on President Park Geun-hye’s opponents.

Sung, the ex-chairman of construction firm Keangnam Enterprises, took his life in April amid mounting bribery charges against him. But hours before his death he revealed a list of ruling bloc officials he had allegedly given bribes to, sparking a public firestorm against the Park administration.

The list included former Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo, former Cheong Wa Dae Chief of Staff Kim Ki-choon and South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Hong Joon-pyo. Rep. Kim Han-gil and Roh Geon-pyeong were not included in that list.

None have been convicted, but Lee resigned in April amid growing public suspicion that he had accepted illegal campaign funds from Sung during the April 2013 parliamentary by-elections.

But the scandal quickly turned against the opposition, when allegations arose that officials in the Roh Moo-hyun administration had allegedly received bribes from Sung. Many leading figures of the NPAD began their political careers under the Roh administration.

Prosecutors say Sung and Kim were close. Local media reported earlier this week that Kim and Sung had been scheduled to meet privately the night before Sung’s suicide.

Prosecutors also accused governing Saenuri Party Rep. Rhee In-je of having received bribes worth 20 million won ($18,000) from Sung just before the 2012 general elections.

Rhee was the chair of the now-dissolved minor conservative Advancement and Unification Party when Sung served as the party’s floor leader. Rhee also denies those charges.

By Jeong Hunny (hj257@heraldcorp.com)