The GNP had intended to give Rhee W500 million, but Rhee's aide, Kim Yun-su, took half the W500 million for himself after it was given him by GNP officials. Prosecutors said they have filed for an arrest warrant on Kim.

United Liberal Democrat Rhee In-je says he has never received money from the Grand National Party in press conference at the party’s conference room Friday.

According to prosecutors, Yi Byeong-gi, "special assistant" to then GNP candidate Lee Hoi-chang, gave two apple boxes each loaded with W250 million to Kim for delivery Rhee. Kim gave one box to Rhee's wife, immediately after Rhee left the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) to join the United Liberal Democrats (UDL)

Three individuals are testifying that Yi, after consulting with then GNP secretary general Kim Young-iel, gave Kim the W500 million with the explanation the party hoped Rhee would "engage in activities advantageous to the GNP." Prosecutors say they have found leads indicating the GNP gave illegal political funds to other influential politicians, in addition to Rhee.

Rhee issued a statement later in the day, in which he said he "didn't receive a penny from the GNP" and that he "never even heard of someone brining in money form the GNP, not from Kim Yun-su or for that matter from anyone else."

"I will fight this crude political revenge by the government of Roh Moo-hyun until the very end," declared Rhee.

Yi, on the other hand, says he gave money from the GNP to Rhee's people, though "it was [legitimate] party funds and not illegal money."

(Choi Jae-hyeok, jhchoi@chosun.com )