ULAN BATOR, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-two lawmakers of the ruling Mongolian People's Party said Tuesday that they are ready to voluntarily give up their parliamentary immunity to be investigated by prosecutors over a scandal involving financial irregularities.
"We will soon submit an official letter on rejecting our parliamentary immunity to the Subcommittee on Ethics at the parliament in order to create justice in the country," the lawmakers said at a press conference, calling on other members of the parliament (MPs) to follow.
The lawmakers made the statement after prosecutors said that the immunity of MPs has become a serious obstacle to investigating a scandal involving members of the parliament and the government.
Parliamentary immunity means MPs are granted partial immunity from prosecution. Before prosecuting, it is necessary that the immunity be revoked.
Reports were made public in late October that some members of the Mongolian parliament and government as well as high-ranking officials have obtained low-interest loans from a fund aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.
Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Minister Batjargal Batzorig has resigned due to the scandal.
