The prosecution is at a crossroad. All hope in the prosecution is rapidly turning to disappointment and criticism as there are now suspicions that certain prosecutors were regularly on the take from Samsung, on top of the fact that the prosecution's investigation into suspicions Samsung engaged in illegal "lobbying" activities was already making inadequate progress. You can see that even the prosecution is confused and at a loss for being in a in a complicated maze.
With Justice Minister Chun Jung Bae talking about exercising his authority in the matter the prosecution is under complete attack. But prosecutor general Kim Jong Bin's reaction to Chun's comments make you feel he is trying to divert attention from the issue at hand. He said it is his duty to protect the prosecution from "outside pressure," but what outside pressure would that be? The pressure the people are directing towards the prosecution is nothing outrageous. They want investigators to find the truth about the illegal eavesdropping and the collusive relationship between politicians, businessmen, and members of the media. Then they want prosecutors to go after those among them who have been receiving bribes from Samsung. If the prosecution has acted on those demands there would probably have been no mention of the justice minister's right intervene.
Kim is just trying to confuse the issue when he says there is "no reason to submit to things that are irrational." Intervening would be to correct a situation in which the prosecution is not doing its job properly. No one is suggesting there be undue meddling. The people would not permit it if the Justice Ministry or Cheong Wa Dae were to wrongfully get involved in the prosecution's investigation in order to advance the interests of the Roh Moo Hyun government.
A list of the current and former prosecutors who took bribes from Samsung has been made public. The prosecution won't even mention the subject, however, and you can feel the shamelessness. You're left dumbfounded to hear investigators to actually say things like "it would be wrong to go on an investigation based on documents from illegal eavesdropping." It's why people can't trust the regular prosecution and the reason you hear calls for a special prosecutor. The prosecution has to make the right decision.
The Hankyoreh, 20 August 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Why Can't the Prosecution Decide to Act? |
