Roh Accepts Counsel Bill on Samsungs Slush Fund

President Roh Moo-hyun said Tuesday that he has decided to accept a bill on an independent probe of Samsung Group's alleged bribery, including illicit campaign donations to Roh and other candidates in the 2002 presidential race.

The decision comes on the back of reports suggesting that Roh may veto the independent counsel bill, which calls for a probe of alleged illicit donations to him and other politicians. Roh denied Sunday that he took bribes from Samsung after his election in 2002. Roh's office has said the bill might conflict with the ongoing investigations of the Samsung case by prosecutors.

Roh, however, took into consideration the fact that the pro-government and opposition lawmakers, who overwhelmingly passed the bill, could easily override his possible veto, while fearing his veto might give the impression that he wants to protect Samsung embroiled in several wrongdoing in the past.

Roh is scheduled to step down in February, when his five-year single term ends. He is barred by law from seeking reelection.

Roh unveiled the surprise decision during a news conference at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae that was hastily arranged shortly after he attended a weekly Cabinet meeting.

The scandal broke earlier this month, when Samsung Group's former top in-house lawyer, Kim Yong-chul, claimed that the nation's largest conglomerate set up massive slush funds to routinely bribe prosecutors and influential government officials in hope of staving off investigations into Samsung's alleged irregularities, including the suspected transfer of control of Samsung from the chairman to his son.

Kim again insisted Monday that Samsung has raised at least 200 billion won (about US$217 million) in slush funds stashed away abroad for personal use by the family of Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee as well as the alleged bribery.

Samsung has denied all the allegations raised by Kim, who worked as chief of Samsung's legal service team from 1997 to 2004.

Last Friday, the National Assembly passed the bill aimed at introducing an independent counsel to investigate Samsung's alleged bribery.

The bill also calls for an inquiry into allegations that the nation's biggest conglomerate made illicit donations to presidential candidates, including Roh, during the 2002 campaign and a "congratulatory victory gift" to Roh after his election. The major opposition Grand National Party has accused Roh of accepting money from Samsung following his win.

"I will accept the special counsel bill, even though I still think that the bill has a large number of problems legally and politically. The bill is too ambiguous," said Roh at the press conference.

"I decided not to veto the bill, because the number of 'yes' votes overwhelmingly exceeded the number of 'no' votes in the Assembly balloting. Thus, I concluded that an exercise of the presidential veto right won't be helpful in changing the situation."

Roh then accused both pro-government and opposition lawmakers of trying to collude to get him into trouble for political reasons.

"The independent counsel bill is the outcome of the lawmakers' abuse of power. If there is a bridge, a boat is not necessary. I called the news conference to renew my call for the creation of a new state investigative body for independent investigations into public officials' corruption," said Roh.

Roh again denied the allegation that Samsung paid him congratulatory money, asking the opposition lawmakers to present any specific evidence to back up their suspicion. He then said he will undergo possible prosecution probes after his retirement "in accordance with conscience and law."

(Yonhap)