The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) has announced the results of its inquiry into the Korea Railroad's (formerly Korea National Railroad) oilfield development project. There were falsified reports, forged documents, attempts to pay honorariums and other tricks from the time the project was decided on, enough to make it hard for you to believe it came from public servants used to playing it careful. BAI has formally asked the prosecution to investigate Huh Moon-suk and five others. While it did uncover some of what took place, it will still be hard for BAI to avoid being viewed with disapproval. Lets assume for a moment that it just does not have what it takes to have provided a satisfying answer to the suspicions. It still took its time starting on a preliminary inquiry back in November, and then it contributed to the growing suspicions by neglecting to keep Huh, a key figure, from leaving the country. There can be no excuse with which to answer to criticism for that.
The task of placating the people's curiosities now goes to the prosecution. It will of course have to figure out which of each known activity was illegal, but the reason there is so much interest in this case is because of the likelihood it was a "power scandal." Whether that was the case or not should be at the center of the investigation. Prosecutors ness to clearly ascertain whether it was just as business failure resulting from serious errors of judgment by officials at Korea Railroad, whether it was a case of fraud as alleged by Uri Party member of the National Assembly Lee Kwang Jae, or whether it was a scandal involving the higher echelons of power and that Lee was involved, too.
Prosecutors must feel a lot of weight on their shoulders since the country is watching the case intensely and because it is being politicized as well. The fact that the main opposition party is calling it a "power scandal" and pursuing legislation that would appoint an independent prosecutor also has to be a burden for the prosecution. The investigation will be the test that determines whether the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office wins the people's confidence under chief prosecutor Kim Jong Bin's leadership. The only way to confront the difficulties will be for prosecutors to investigate like they are supposed to, fulfilling their duty to serve the "public good." The appointment of an independent prosecutor might even be an expected turn of events. One prosecution official goes so far as to ask if the people will believe in what they come up with and suggests it actually would be best to have a independent prosecutor. Still, it is not as if the prosecution should abandon its responsibility and pass everything on to an independent prosecutor. That, too, is something for the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office to resolve.
The Hankyoreh, 13 April 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] The Prosecution's Turn on Oilfield Questions |
