Text Fwd: Corrupt Reactionary Korean Government President Illegally Spying On Citizens and Politicans

* Text forward from Steve Zeltzer on Jan. 17, 2011


HollywoodDaily.US
Source: Korea Times
Prosecution under pressure to probe ‘daepo phone’ scandal
November 18th, 2010
By Park Si-soo

The prosecution has reopened its investigation into allegations that a former prosecutor received a “Grandeur” sedan from a businessman in return for arranging a smooth settlement of the litigation against him.

But the timing of the reopening has touched off speculation that it was a bid to distract public attention from another snowballing scandal that close aides to President Lee Myung-bak might have been behind the illegal surveillance of citizens and politicians critical of the conservative state leader.

The probe into the surveillance scandal had recently taken a fresh twist after some officials from the Prime Minister’s Office were confirmed to have used mobile phones registered under borrowed names in order to orchestrate the surveillance. A senior Cheong Wa Dae official was found to have given the falsely-registered phones or “daepo phones” to the officials of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Opposition lawmakers are claiming that the prosecution is reopening the investigation into the official, dubbed the “Grandeur Prosecutor,” in an attempt to divert attention from the daepo phone surveillance scandal.

While the prosecution asserted that the conspiracy theory is groundless, opposition legislators have formed an alliance to fight what they call “political suppression” of any active foes of President Lee.

Five opposition parties, including the largest Democratic Party (DP), issued a joint statement Thursday announcing they will soon submit a bill to the National Assembly aimed at launching an independent counsel to investigate the monitoring scandal. They also called on the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) to accept the idea of launching a parliamentary inspection of the prosecution.

The opposition parties’ collective action came one day after a special investigation team, headed by senior prosecutor Kang Chan-woo, raided a construction company owner’s house and office as part of the investigation into the bribery scandal. Investigators confiscated computer hard disks and accounting books.

The businessman, identified only by his surname Kim, is suspected of having paid 34 million won ($29,900) to buy a Grandeur sedan, which later turned out to be registered under the name of a senior prosecutor’s wife.

The senior prosecutor, who recently quit his position to become a lawyer, is suspected of having received the car in return for the smooth settlement of litigation against the businessman in 2008.

The prosecutor was subject to an internal investigation, but he was cleared of all charges. Wrapping up the probe, the prosecution said the man in question “borrowed” the questionable money from the businessman to buy the sedan and paid him back months later.

In a media briefing at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, Wednesday, to announce the reopening of the probe Kang said that the investigation is “very burdensome.”

“But prosecutors’ blood is cold. If I find any fault with the prior investigation, those proven to be liable for the botched investigation will face the consequences for their actions,” Kang said.

On the same day, the National Assembly was filled with outcries from opposition legislators who claim the reopening of the probe into the Grandeur prosecutor, is intended to divert public attention from the illegal monitoring scandal.

DP leader Sohn Hak-kyu lambasted the prosecution, calling it a “servant of power.” Sohn Wednesday hinted at boycotting the Assembly’s standing committees which are busy handling already overdue bills related with the state budget for next year.

Fueling the outcry of opposition lawmakers was another widening investigation into dozens of lawmakers suspected of having received illegal political donations from an association for private security guards, named “Cheongmok.” Prosecutors believe nearly 40 lawmakers have benefited from the lobby group’s donations in exchange for helping amend a law to boost wages and extend the retirement age.

“The Lee Myung-bak administration is intensifying the investigation of the donation scandal to distract public attention from another scandal centered on the illegal surveillance of citizens and lawmakers critical of President Lee,” Sohn said. “All DP members will fight the prosecution.”


검찰, 게는 가재 편?

검찰은 최근 수사상 편의를 봐준 대가로 부인의 그랜저 승용차를 받았다는 의혹을 받고 있는 전직 부장검사에 대한 재수사를 시작했다.

하지만 그 시기가 논란을 일으키고 있다. 야권에서는 이번 재수사가 민간인 사찰사건으로 곤욕을 치르고 있는 청와대를 향한 비난을 분산시키기 위한 것이 아니냐는 주장을 하고 있다.

최근 총리실 직원이 민간인 사찰에 대포폰을 사용했다는 것이 확인되면서 민간인 사찰사건은 새로운 국면을 맞이하였다.