The opposition Democratic United Party leader’s criticism of the prosecution is worth noting. Its Chairwoman Han Myeong-sook Thursday accused prosecutors of not investigating allegations that all people know of. She claimed the head of state is responsible for the hesitancy of looking into power-related crimes.
She made the statement as National Assembly Speaker Park Hee-tae resigned over vote-buying claims ahead of the ruling party’s leadership election in 2008.
Before his resignation, he had flatly denied the allegations. But his former secretary revealed that a ruling-party lawmaker rejected 3 million won he had tried to deliver. The secretary also said he tried to deliver the money at the instruction of Kim Hyo-jae, then campaign manager for the disgraced speaker, and now the presidential secretary for political affairs. The junior secretary allegedly decided to belatedly reveal this out of disillusionment with his former bosses ― the speaker and the presidential secretary who tried to pass the buck to his deputies to protect themselves.
Now it has become inevitable to probe the speaker and the presidential secretary. The vote-buying case is one of the power-related crimes that prosecutors have hesitated to investigate.
Rep. Lee Sang-deuk, elder brother of President Lee Myung-bak, has been on the lips of many people about his abuse of power. He even acknowledged $750,000 cash kept by his secretary as his own money. He failed to verify the source of the money in a transparent way.
Prosecutors have just looked into the allegations only through written questionnaires.
President Lee’s close confidant Choi See-joong has resigned from the Korea Communications Commission chairmanship amid speculation he delivered cash to lawmakers. A close aide of his is now hiding overseas to avoid investigations over taking bribes. A few bribery allegations link Choi and his aide. Choi has yet to face investigation.
Former Vice Knowledge and Economy Minister Park Young-joon, a long-time secretary of Rep. Lee Sang-deuk, is also free from investigation despite claims he abused power in overseas resources development projects.
The governing Saenuri Party is on the defensive in the face of the attack by the opposition. It is in a no-win situation as prosecutors have delayed the investigations.
The opposition vows to use the power-related crimes during the run up to the general election in April. It also plans to initiate a parliamentary investigation into the alleged crimes involving President Lee’s family members and cronies after the election.
The prosecution’s procrastination is of help to the opposition ahead of the crucial vote. This also alienates and disillusions the people who yearn for an end to kleptocracy. Prompt investigations will also blunt the opposition’s offensive during the campaign period.
Prosecutors must start looking into power-related crimes. This is necessary to silence claims that its hesitancy is attributable to pressure from the presidential office.
Political neutrality of the law enforcement officers is crucial in upholding social justice. Prosecutors should not become sycophants to those in power.