Lawmaker-elect Kim Hyung-tae appeared for questioning late Thursday over the allegation that he attempted to sexually assault the wife of his late brother, but denied most of the accusations, police said.

Kim, who left the ruling Saenuri Party on Wednesday over the scandal, requested the investigation be delayed, citing he had incomplete data, the Pohang Southern Police Station said.

The former KBS reporter who won in the South Pohang and Ulleung Island constituency had filed a defamation suit against his sister-in-law, who has been claims that Kim attempted to sexually assault her in 2002. Kim denied the allegation and instead argued she has been blackmailing him.

Kim reportedly dodged most of the police questions by saying he “left the data at home,” or “the documents are not complete yet.”

Police said they will question Kim again early next week, after which they will bring in the sister-in-law for questioning.

Kim is also suspected of setting up an unauthorized campaign office in Yeouido, Seoul, where he made calls to voters. Kim reportedly argued that while he paid the office workers, he was irrelevant to the calls they made to voters.

(jhl@heraldcorp.com)