Prosecutors are following up on suspicions that the conglomerate SK Group provided more than 10 billion won (US$8.7 million) in bribes to two senior lawmakers and a former presidential aide just before the presidential election late last year.

Prosecutors said Rep. Lee Sang-soo of the new party tentatively named the People's Participatory United New Party is suspected of receiving 7 billion won from SK in Dec. 2002 while he was serving as secretary general of the then-ruling Millennium Democratic Party.

Rep. Choi Don-woong of the major opposition Grand National Party (GNP) is charged with taking billions of won from SK just before the presidential election in December last year, when he was a chief financier at the GNP's election campaign headquarters.

The prosecution also issued a summons to Choi Do-sul, former presidential secretary for general affairs, accusing him of taking bribes from SK in exchange for exercising influence on behalf of the nation's third-largest business group.

Prosecutors have already taken measures to ban Rep. Choi and other ex-Cheong Wa Dae staff from leaving the country.

Sources said prosecutors will also finger several other lawmakers on similar charges.