Seoul July 23 (IANS) A prominent South Korean lawmaker committed suicide on Monday amid a probe into allegations that he received an illegal political fund.
According to Yonhap news agency Representative Roh Hoe-chan a leader of the left-leaning Justice Party was found dead near the entrance of an apartment building in central Seoul early morning.
The three-term lawmaker jumped to his death the agency reported. Roh was under investigation over allegations he received over $44 000 from a blogger at the centre of an online opinion-rigging scandal.
Yonhap said Roh 61 left a suicide note in his apartment admitting to accepting money but denying any wrongdoing. He also apologized to his family in the note.
South Korea has one of the world s highest suicide rates. Victims include disgraced politicians and business executives. One of the most prominent figures in recent years to commit suicide was former President Roh Moo-hyun who jumped to his death in 2009 over a corruption scandal.

--IANS anp/soni/sed