By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
The National Assembly passed a bill Friday to appoint an independent counsel to investigate the alleged bribery scandal involving the Samsung Group.
Under the bill, which was revised at the request of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP), the special prosecutor will investigate the legality of Samsung's father-to-son wealth transfer and allegations of the creation of a slush fund and bribery.
The investigation will also cover allegations that Samsung gave campaign funds in 2002 to then presidential candidate Roh Moo-hyun and congratulatory money to him after the election. The GNP added this to the bill.
However, Justice Minister Chung Soung-jin opposed the bill, saying that it is against constitutional principles and damaged the nation's credibility.
``I cannot help but pointing out serious problems in the special investigation bill as minister of justice,'' Chung said at the meeting of Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly. ``It breaches constitutional principles and violates equality among people.''
He said the bill will launch re-investigation into cases which were concluded by court decisions or are still under investigation, which will damage the judiciary system.
The presidential office again hinted that President Roh Moo-hyun may veto the bill because independent counsel will be asked to cover too broad an area.
``Though we haven't decided yet, we still consider vetoing the bill,'' presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon said. ``When the bill is submitted to the government for final approval, we will make a decision.''
Cheon stressed that Cheong Wa Dae has not been engaged in the Samsung bribery scandal and there should be no further investigation into Roh's campaign fund because the case was concluded.
``We will watch the investigation by the prosecution, which is conducting the probe into the scandal,'' Cheon added.
The Supreme Court is reviewing the Samsung case and the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office is also to start an investigation into the scandal with a special unit of its own.
The counsel's main targets are father-to-son wealth transfer through dubious stock trading and the use of a slush fund for bribing before and after the 2002 presidential election.
The GNP claimed that Roh took bribes from Samsung under the name of congratulatory money after winning the 2002 election and that's why Roh is reluctant to it being investigated.
The counsel will be assisted by three lawyers recommended by the Korean Bar Association, three assistant prosecutors, three dispatched prosecutors, and 40 public servants.
The team will have 20 days for preparation and 60 days for investigation with possible extension of 45 days.