[Editorial] Excusing Lee Kwang Jae From Criminal Charges?

Initially investigators failed to find out where W46 billion in Samsung bonds went in the 2002 presidential campaign, but now the final destinations of some of that money have been learned. W600 million went to Lee Kwang Jae, currently a National Assemblyman with Uri Party, and the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) received, it turns out, W2.47 billion more than the W30 billion that was already known about.

Such are the results of the prosecution's investigation, and the first question becomes whether investigators have completely resolved the problem of where the W80 billion Samsung purchased in bearer bonds immediately before the election went. The conglomerate itself says that it still has most of them and has given some to executives as incentives, and reportedly it has shown prosecutors the bonds and related documentation. Whether or not it is telling an accurate version of events will have to be verified by investigators. However, one has to worry that the prosecution will just follow along with whatever explanatory statements Samsung issues during the inquiry, much as it has done in the "X File" investigation.

One also doubts whether Lee should be free from any charges like the prosecution says. Investigators are saying they cannot charge him with embezzlement since he says he used it all in the campaign. However, they have not provided evidence that he did not diverted the funds for personal use. Office operating expenses are borderline because they could be considered campaign expenses and they could be seen as misuse for private purposes. It is hard to rid oneself of the feeling that prosecutors have deliberately exempted Lee from any charges by being all too accommodating towards his own statements.

It is also strange that they only called Lee in for questioning immediately after the statute of limitations on political funds expired. There is ample reason to suspect there was some sort of agreement between Samsung and the prosecution because during the "X File" investigation Samsung admitted giving Lee W600 million. Some observers even suggest the prosecution is trying to use the case to put pressure on the government and ruling party regarding giving police the authority to conduct independent investigations. The prosecution has to take an honest approach to the rest of the case if it wants to refute all the suspicions.

The Hankyoreh, 16 December 2005.

[Translations by Seoul Selection]