Impeachment of Prosecutors

Liberals Slammed for Political Maneuvering

The rival political parties clashed Tuesday over an impeachment bill against three prosecutors submitted by the pro-government United New Democratic Party (UNDP). Some 30 lawmakers of the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) barricaded the seat of the House Speaker to block the possible passage of the bill at the National Assembly. It is the first time prosecutors have faced impeachment at the initiation of a political party, though Prosecutor-Generals have been subject to the measure six times in the past. All the cases were rejected or repealed.

The UNDP claims the three prosecutors failed to investigate suspicions over GNP presidential candidate Lee Myung-bak's alleged involvement in the so-called BBK financial rigging scandal. It also asserts the prosecutors violated the Constitution and Prosecution Law in attempts to cover up or manipulate evidence while clearing Lee of any charges. The UNDP has been criticized for having pressed the prosecution by mobilizing some 60 of its lawmakers who staged protests in front of the prosecution office in southern Seoul.

The UNDP has been launching multi-pronged offensives against the front-running GNP presidential contender Lee, since the prosecution disclosed the outcome of its investigation into the BBK case on Dec. 5. We believe the UNDP's move is nothing but political maneuvering designed to hurt the GNP standard bearer. The UNDP and its presidential candidate Chung Dong-young are hell bent on attacking Lee.

With looming defeat in the Dec. 19 poll, the UNDP appears to be bracing for parliamentary elections slated for April, next year while giving up on the presidential election. Various signs indicate presidential contenders have begun to shift their focus to the National Assembly polls. Independent Lee Hoi-chang has declared he will create a new party on behalf of conservative forces. Creative Korea Party's Moon Kook-hyun is also ready to continue the race despite his seemingly slight chance of winning. Moon has also rebuffed the UNDP's request to put forward a single candidate.

The UNDP will likely to continue to raise the issue of the BBK scandal even after the presidential poll to use it as a tool to win the upper hand in the parliamentary election. The prosecution is believed to have done its utmost to get the real picture of the scandal over the past month. Some 60 elite prosecutors spared no efforts searching for hundreds of accounts at home and abroad while questioning tens of people. They also mobilized all possible scientific equipment to detect authenticity of the documents submitted. Justice Minister Chung Soung-jin said, ``It is not fair to believe a person who embezzled tens of billions of won, while distrusting the outcome of an investigation conducted by top-class prosecutors.''