The independent counsel investigating President-elect Lee Myung-bak gave him a clean slate on Thursday, clearing him of all wrongdoing allegations. The team headed by special prosecutor Chung Ho-young wrapped up its 38-day probe, rejecting the allegations raised by Lee's opponents ahead of his victory in the Dec. 19 presidential election.
The investigation results confirmed Lee's innocence in relation with the politically charged allegations made against him during the campaign period. The exoneration came after the prosecutors' office cleared Lee of all the suspicions on Dec. 5. However, the pro-government United New Democratic Party (UNDP) ― now the United Democratic Party (UDP) ― and minor opposition parties pushed for the special probe into Lee, raising suspicions about his business activities and accumulation of wealth
One of the major suspicions was whether Lee collaborated in rigging share prices of the investment firm BBK set up by his one-time business partner Kim Kyung-joon. Others included whether he amassed his wealth through dubious property deals and using borrowed names, and whether the Seoul city government, under his directive when serving as mayor, gave a lucrative land deal to an unqualified firm.
Those allegations dogged him throughout the campaign period. Lee's opponents in the election went all-out to damage his reputation and integrity by claiming that he was deeply involved in illegal activities.
Now, the investigation is completely over. And everyone should respect the results. But, Lee's political rivals do not seem to want to give up their efforts to smear the final outcome. They are likely to keep up their mudslinging campaign against Lee and his party to turn the tables before the general elections slated for April.
The GNP welcomed the probe results as the ``victory of truth.'' However, the UDP, which was created by a merge of the UNDP and the minor Democratic Party, accused the independent counsel of failing to shed light on the case. Now it is time for the UDP to refrain from continuously engaging in a political war of attrition by honoring the special prosecutor's action. The President-elect also should bear in mind that being cleared of the suspicions does not necessarily mean that he is free from moral responsibility for the scandal.
A video clip disclosed that Lee told an audience in a lecture at a university that he created BBK. The probe team concluded that Lee was just trying to show off his business prowess even though he had nothing to do with the firm. That is, Lee lied to the audience. And doubts still remain over how he developed a partnership with Kim Kyung-joon, who was indicted for share price manipulation and embezzlement.
Despite its efforts to get to the bottom of the BBK scandal, the special investigation team is under criticism for questioning Lee just once while grilling Kim 13 times. Regrettably, there was no double-examination. Investigators conducted the questioning of Lee in a restaurant for less than two hours on Feb. 17, while having dinner with him. This gives the impression that the independent counsel became an underdog in the presence of political power.