The South Korean government will likely grant a special amnesty to two close confidants of President Roh Moo-hyun, who have been barred from engaging in political activities due to their convictions for bribery, a ruling party official said Wednesday.
South Korea plans to pardon a number of prisoners and reinstate the professional and civil rights of some ex-convicts on the occasion of the Aug. 15 Liberation Day, which commemorates the end of Japan's 36-year colonial rule in 1945.
“There is a possibility that Ahn Hee-jung and Shin Geh-ryoon will be included in the list" of those getting special pardons, said an official at the ruling Uri Party. The list is being worked out by the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae and the Justice Ministry, he said.
Ahn, a longtime confidant of President Roh, was convicted of receiving 6.5 billion won (US$6.7 million) from businesses ahead of the 2002 presidential election. Ahn was released from prison in December 2004 after serving one year, but his electoral eligibility is still restricted.
Shin is a former three-time legislator who served as chief secretary for then President-elect Roh. He was deprived of his parliamentary seat in February after the Supreme Court issued a two-year suspended prison term for him over kickback charges.
“Cheong Wa Dae is still in agony over Ahn as he is a right-hand man of the president,” the party official said, on condition of anonymity.
The reported plan drew strong criticism from opposition parties.
"President Roh is moving to imperialistically exercise his right to give pardons and appoint personnel," said Kim Gi-hyeon, a top policy planner at the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP).
Kim said the GNP will seek legislation aimed at restricting the president from granting special pardons to convicts.
Cheong Wa Dae, meanwhile, said it has yet to finalize a list of names to be pardoned or reinstated.
The list is expected to be determined after a Cabinet Council meeting on Friday, government officials said.
The ruling Uri Party requested Cheong Wa Dae to pardon convicted businessmen to revive the slowing economy, but the presidential office hasn't made a decision on it, they said.
South Korea has been granting special amnesties to inmates and convicted politicians and businessmen on major holidays. Last year, The government pardoned 4.2 million people to commemorate Liberation Day.
Seoul, Aug. 9 (Yonhap News)
Two convicted associates of President Roh likely to be pardoned: party official |
