Roh to Name Special Prosecutor to Samsung
By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
President Roh Moo-hyun Tuesday said he will appoint an independent counsel in about two weeks to investigate alleged illegalities involving the Samsung Group.
At a press conference at Cheong Wa Dae Tuesday, Roh said he decided to accept the bill on a special investigation into the scandal involving a slush fund. ``I decided against vetoing the bill because people want to know the truth of the allegations implicating the nation's largest conglomerate.''
This is a U-turn from his previous position when Roh said he could veto the bill as the proposed probe was too extensive and includes cases already under investigation by state prosecutors.
The investigation will likely begin after the presidential election.
However, Roh said, ``I think the bill has many problems both legally and politically. But my acceptance was inevitable as the situation, in which pro-government and opposition party lawmakers overwhelmingly passed the bill, would not change even after a possible veto.''
In addition, Roh denied allegations that he took ``congratulatory money'' from the Samsung Group after winning the 2002 presidential election, demanding that lawmakers of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) present specific evidence to back up their allegation.
Roh also accused both pro-government and opposition party lawmakers of trying to collude to get him into trouble for political reasons. Roh's single five-year term ends next February. He is banned from seeking reelection under the Constitution.
``The bill is the outcome of the lawmakers' abuse of power. If there is a bridge, a boat is not necessary,'' he said. ``I called the news conference to renew my call for the creation of a new state investigative body for independent investigations of corruption involving public officials.''
Roh also expressed his willingness to undergo possible investigation after he retires from office.
On the other hand, President Roh expressed anxiety about the negative effects of the National Assembly-initiated probe, saying the system could discourage state prosecutors.
Public opinion has strongly supported the designation of an independent counsel on the Samsung scandal amid allegations that many state prosecutors received money from the group.
The scandal broke earlier this month, when the group's former top in-house lawyer, Kim Yong-chul, claimed that it set up a large slush fund to bribe prosecutors and influential government officials in the hope of staving off investigations into Samsung's alleged irregularities, including its father-to-son wealth transfer.
On Nov. 23, the National Assembly passed the bill aimed at introducing an independent counsel to investigate the case.