Parliament Set to Vote on Special Investigation Motion on Front-Runner

The National Assembly was set Monday to vote on a bill calling for an independent investigation into the presidential front-runner's alleged financial improbity.

The controversial bill, aimed at shedding further light on Lee Myung-bak's alleged connection to a 2001 financial scam and hidden assets, could jeopardize the leading candidate's chances of snatching a widely-expected win in Wednesday's election.

The pro-government party is determined to promptly settle the bill in the afternoon's plenary session, with cooperation from minor opposition parties.

The main opposition party, however, demanded an extended deliberation period, in an obvious attempt to delay settlement of the bill until after Wednesday's election.

The Grand National Party (GNP) candidate Lee's popularity climbed to over 40 percent after the prosecution cleared him of alleged connections to the 2001 stock price manipulation case on Dec. 5.

But parties opposing Lee, lead by the ruling United New Democratic Party (UNDP) have been pushing for an independent counsel to re-investigate the case, claiming that the prosecutorial probe was politically biased.

The main opposition GNP fears that even if it wins the election, further investigation into the scandal could hinder the party's running of state affairs and negatively affect its chances in the parliamentary elections slated for April next year.

The motion calls for a broad investigation of Lee's alleged connection to the stock manipulation, embezzlement and money laundering; hidden assets including lucrative land in Seoul and auto parts maker DAS owned by Lee's brother and brother-in law. The bill also calls for the counsel to investigate the prosecution's prior probe results.

The bill is likely to pass despite the GNP's objection, with cooperation from the UNDP and minor opposition parties.

A simple majority of the 299-member legislature is needed for the motion's approval. The UNDP has 141 seats to the GNP's 128, with others being held by minor parties.

"The Assembly Speaker must extend the deliberation period for thorough review of the bill," said GNP floor leader Ahn Sang-soo during a press conference Monday. "If the vote is not delayed, we will submit a revised bill to the plenary session."

Ahn also called for a meeting of five party leaders to discuss the details of the bill.

The GNP wants to narrow the scope of investigation solely to the 2001 scandal and scrap sections of the bill which they claim attempt to "criminalize" Lee.

The UNDP and minor oppositions bluntly turned down the request, ridiculing the GNP as "playing a hopeless game."

"It is bizarre that the GNP is requesting discussion of the bill after boycotting deliberation sessions for the past three months," said UNDP spokesperson Choi jae-cheon. "The bill must and will be settled today, with or without the GNP's approval."

Should the bill achieve parliamentary approval, a team of independent investigators will launch a re-investigation to be concluded before the Feb. 25 inauguration of the new president.

(Yonhap)