By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
The Grand National Party (GNP) toned up its offensive against President Roh Moo-hyun and the prosecution as a full-scale probe of its presidential candidate and former Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak is under way.
It complained of alleged ``bias'' in the prosecution's probe.
``The prosecution has been very slow to start investigation over the legal case that the GNP has filed, while the investigation over Lee's property trading has taken the heat,'' GNP Chairman Kang Jae-sup said Wednesday.
The party leader indicated the party would monitor whether the prosecution is on the right track and take appropriate measures if necessary.
The conservative party filed a lawsuit against five lawmakers of the pro-government Uri Party, including Rep. Kim Hyuk-kyu, on July 3 for the leak of classified information of the former Seoul mayor.
Kim claimed frontrunner Lee used phony residential addresses 21 times for real estate speculation.
The party Wednesday asked the prosecution to investigate six former and incumbent officials of the nation's spy agency for running a task force to conduct covert operations against the former Seoul mayor.
``The GNP asked the prosecution to probe if the six former and incumbent NIS officials have violated relevant laws, instead of filing a lawsuit against Lee,'' Rep. Ahn Sang-soo said.
It accused former and incumbent directors of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and Lee Sang-eop, a former No. 3 man of the agency, of investigating property trading of the former Seoul mayor, along with three other NIS agents.
The GNP claimed that it is highly likely Chong Wa Dae was aware of the covert operation against the former Seoul mayor, given that Lee Sang-eop is a brother-in-law of Rep. Moon Hee-sang of the pro-government Uri Party.
``It is my conclusion that the spy agency reported to President Roh Moo-hyun a political plot to destabilize GNP presidential contenders,'' said the GNP leader.
The presidential office and Moon have denied the claim and they reiterated Chong Wa Dae was unaware of the operation. The presidential office urged the GNP to stop the political offensive. It said the NIS has routinely looked into public post holders to ensure a clean government.