A high-profiled South Korean opposition lawmaker appeared before prosecutors Tuesday to face questioning over bribery allegations.

Park Jie-won, floor leader of main opposition Democratic United Party, defied three previous requests to turn himself in.

The 70-year-old is suspected of taking some 100 million won (87, 800 U.S. dollars) from a troubled local savings bank in illegal political funds before the 2008 general elections..

The influence-peddling scandal has implicated a handful of high- ranking government officials and ruling Saenuri Party heavyweights, leading to the detention of suspects including President Lee Myung- bak's elder brother Lee Sang-deuk.

Park, a three-term lawmaker, has denied all charges and claimed the investigation was politically motivated.