By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Prosecutors will continue to investigate the controversy over the properties of leading presidential contender Lee Myung-bak after his brother-in-law refused Wednesday to drop a lawsuit filed against close aides of Park Geun-hye.
The lawyer of Kim Jae-jung, brother-in-law of former Seoul Mayor Lee, told reporters that the only goal Kim was trying to achieve with the legal action was to reveal the truth.
``Therefore, there is the possibility that Kim could withdraw the lawsuit if the alleged offenders _ close aides of Park _ make an apology for their wrongdoing and vow not to repeatedly defame him,'' the lawyer said. The Lee camp earlier said that the brother-in-law of the former Seoul mayor could be persuaded to drop the libel suit.
The question is whether or not the prosecution will stop investigating the case if Kim does so.
Under the current law, the prosecution has no jurisdiction over the defamation case once a plaintiff in a case drops a lawsuit.
However, there is still room for the prosecution's further investigation as related legal action was taken by the Grand National Party (GNP).
The GNP filed a suit against five Uri Party lawmakers last week for their alleged unauthorized access to classified information about Lee.
The opposition party has kept pressing the prosecution to stop investigations if the plaintiff decides to drop the case. According to GNP Chairman, Kang Jae-sup, such a course of action reflects that the prosecution has the intention of meddling in the December 19 presidential election.
``I will not sit idly back if the prosecution acts to influence the presidential election,'' Kang told reporters.
The opposition party sent a memo requesting the two presidential contenders' camps to withdraw lawsuits filed against their counterparts and bring the issues to an in-house watchdog.
Frontrunner candidate Lee said that he has nothing to do with the legal action and it is his brother-in-law who took it.
``My position is that it is unfair for one of my relatives to go through this kind of undeserved suffering mainly because he is my acquaintance,'' Lee said.
However, the fact that my brother-in-law brought the issue to justice indicates that he is innocent and not guilty, he said.
Former GNP Chairwoman Park Geun-hye's camp replied negatively to the party's recommendation. The Park camp urged Lee to make clear his shady accumulation of wealth.