Top Prosecutors Resignation Turned Down
By Do Je-hae
Staff Reporter
The Ministry of Justice has rejected a letter of resignation submitted by Prosecutor General Lim Chae-jin, prosecutors said Monday.
Lim tendered his resignation Saturday upon hearing the news that former President Roh Moo-hyun jumped to his death in his hometown of Bongha, South Gyeongsang Province. Lim apparently held himself responsible for the prosecution's intensive investigation into suspicions of bribery involving the family of the ex-head of state. Some observers speculate that the questioning of Roh led him to commit suicide.
Prosecutors said that Lim notified Justice Minister Kim Kyung-han of his intention to step down just hours after Roh's death was made known Saturday morning, but his resignation letter was returned Monday afternoon.
``Lim delivered his intention to quit, but the justice minister asked him to conclude the ongoing probe into the so-called Park Yeon-cha scandal before considering his resignation,'' said a prosecutor on condition of anonymity.
Roh was summoned by prosecutors April 30 and faced about 10 hours of grueling questioning over allegations that he and his family members had received at least $6 million from Park, the arrested chairman of shoemaker Taekwang Industry.
Critics say the former President may have decided to kill himself because he was unable to stand the enormous psychological pressure ahead of a prosecution decision on whether to seek an arrest warrant for him on bribery charges.
Lim was appointed prosecutor general during the Roh presidency, which ended in February 2008.