Prosecutors raided Tuesday the residences and offices of a dozen rightist activists as part of a probe into their pro-government campaigns allegedly abetted and sponsored by the former Park Geun-hye administration.

Investigators from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office seized evidence including mobile phones, documents and digital files from the locations including the residence of a former Park aide believed to have been in charge of managing those groups, the prosecution said.

A special counsel that investigated a corruption case involving Park has accused the former presidential office of inducing major conglomerates to donate some 6.8 billion won ($5.98 million) to fund their activities between 2014 and late 2016. 

The state prosecution followed up on the investigation and claimed the amount of the funding and the scope of abetment were much larger than initially thought.

The conservative groups are suspected of being paid to stage street rallies and media campaigns to influence public opinion in favor of government policies, the prosecution said.

The prosecution has widened its probe into allegations of massive political maneuvering by the two administrations of Park and her predecessor Lee Myung-bak since liberal President Moon Jae-in took office in May this year. Park was ousted in March over an influence-peddling and corruption scandal. (Yonhap)