ed Bribery probe fizzles out

The prosecution’s investigation into the bribery scandal prompted by the so-called “Sung Woan-jong list” is about to wind down, more quietly than expected, as the nation is wrapped up in the fight against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.

Rep. Hong Moon-jong of the Saenuri Party was the third person summoned by the prosecution over allegations that he received 200 million won before the 2012 presidential election from the late Keangnam Enterprises Chairman Sung. The legislator has denied the allegations, and the word is that he is not expected to be indicted nor the five others named by Sung in his suicide memo in April.

While the prosecution has decided to indict without physical detention former Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo and South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Joon-pyo in the scandal, the investigation into Rep. Hong was under enhanced scrutiny because Hong’s case revolved around President Park Geun-hye’s 2012 election campaign.

The prosecution in Korea has largely been vulnerable to incumbent powers. But the prosecution had vowed to leave no stone unturned when Sung left the memo naming eight ruling camp bigwigs, including two former and the current presidential chiefs of staff for having allegedly received political funds. Sung disclosed their names and in some cases the amount of cash next to the names in the memo. He then backed it up with an interview with a local vernacular daily.

It is, admittedly, not an easy investigation as Sung died and those named all deny the allegations. The prosecutors, however, foretold of how the probe would unfold when they questioned six in written correspondence. Such a questioning method is largely used as part of a process not to indict.

With an announcement of the findings expected next week, the prosecution’s investigation is not likely to dig deeper into the scandal, especially into those close to the administration’s core. Without a clear-cut picture of what transpired between Sung and Rep. Hong, as well as Sung and others, the public may well demand an independent counsel, the appointment of which erodes the prosecution’s credibility in the investigation. With a few days left, the prosecutors should ask themselves if that is what they want.