South Korea’s ruling and opposition parties
agreed Friday to allow a special prosecutor to look into alleged irregularities
in the now-scrapped project to build a retirement home for President Lee
Myung-bak.
The Saenuri Party and the Democratic United Party (DUP) said they have ironed out the details on opening a new investigation into allegations raised about the violation of real estate transaction laws and irregularities in the purchase of the land located in Naegok-dong in the southern outskirts of Seoul.
“Two special prosecutor candidates will be recommended by the DUP, with one being appointed by the president,” Rep. Moon Byeong-ho told reporters. He said the bill permitting the special prosecutor to conduct his probe will be passed next Thursday.
The opposition lawmaker said once a special counsel has been named, he or she can receive two assistant prosecutors and other support personnel.
The parties said to make certain that the investigations are conducted in an unbiased manner, no one who is a member of a political party or was a registered member in the past can be appointed.
Special prosecutors can conduct a probe for 30 days following a 10-day preparation period. The probe can be extended for an additional 15 days if more time is needed.
The scandal centers on Lee Si-hyung, the president’s 34-year-old son, and six others who were accused of playing a role in buying land for the retirement home using about 1 billion won ($881,800) of taxpayers’ money.
The project drew public criticism last year following revelations that Lee’s son and the presidential office jointly purchased the planned site in Seoul’s Naegok-dong for a total of 5.4 billion won.
The DUP, filed a complaint with prosecutors in October, accusing the seven people of bringing losses to the country in the purchase deal.
Despite the allegations raised, state prosecutors dropped all charges by claiming there was no evidence of illegal activities.
Prosecutors also said they found no proof that the president tried to buy land illegally using his son’s name.
(Yonhap News)
The Saenuri Party and the Democratic United Party (DUP) said they have ironed out the details on opening a new investigation into allegations raised about the violation of real estate transaction laws and irregularities in the purchase of the land located in Naegok-dong in the southern outskirts of Seoul.
“Two special prosecutor candidates will be recommended by the DUP, with one being appointed by the president,” Rep. Moon Byeong-ho told reporters. He said the bill permitting the special prosecutor to conduct his probe will be passed next Thursday.
The opposition lawmaker said once a special counsel has been named, he or she can receive two assistant prosecutors and other support personnel.
The parties said to make certain that the investigations are conducted in an unbiased manner, no one who is a member of a political party or was a registered member in the past can be appointed.
Special prosecutors can conduct a probe for 30 days following a 10-day preparation period. The probe can be extended for an additional 15 days if more time is needed.
The scandal centers on Lee Si-hyung, the president’s 34-year-old son, and six others who were accused of playing a role in buying land for the retirement home using about 1 billion won ($881,800) of taxpayers’ money.
The project drew public criticism last year following revelations that Lee’s son and the presidential office jointly purchased the planned site in Seoul’s Naegok-dong for a total of 5.4 billion won.
The DUP, filed a complaint with prosecutors in October, accusing the seven people of bringing losses to the country in the purchase deal.
Despite the allegations raised, state prosecutors dropped all charges by claiming there was no evidence of illegal activities.
Prosecutors also said they found no proof that the president tried to buy land illegally using his son’s name.
(Yonhap News)
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