hankyoreh

Former president Lee Myung-bak reads a public statement at his office in the Gangnam district of Seoul on Jan. 17 to discuss prosecutors’ investigations into various aspects of his presidency. “Instead of continuing to harass officials who dedicated themselves to the state with a cobbled-together investigation

Former President Lee Myung-bak fired back over an investigation by prosecutors into allegations of “special activity fund” diversions by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) during his administration (2008-13), calling the probe “political retaliation for the death of [former President] Roh Moo-hyun.” Lee also sent the message that investigations should focus their questions on him.

“This investigation has been cobbled together to target me personally. [The prosecutors] should be asking me,” he said.

Lee’s remarks came as he read a public statement at 5:30 pm on Jan. 17 at his office in Seoul’s Daechi neighborhood.

“Many South Koreans view the prosecutors’ investigation in the name of ‘eradicating deep-rooted vices’ as a political operate to wipe out conservatives and as political retaliation for the death of Roh Moo-hyun,” he said.

“The prosecutors’ recent investigation into the Lee Myung-bak administration’s Blue House and the government officials who worked with me has clearly targeted me personally from the beginning,” a visibly upset Lee added.

“Final responsibility for everything that happened during my term lies with me,” he continued.

“Instead of continuing to harass officials who dedicated themselves to the state with a cobbled-together investigation, [prosecutors] should be asking me. That is my position,” he said. Lee continued to maintain his innocence on all accusations.

“I have been put through a great deal of suffering over the five years since I left office with investigations into the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project, resource diplomacy, and Lotte World 2, and I think it is very fortunate that there was no abuse of power by the government officials who worked with me,” he said.

Lee read his remarks from a one-page position statement before returning to his office without taking questions from reporters. At around 6:30 pm, he left the office, also without answering questions from the press.

[prosecutors] should be asking me. That is my position

Despite Lee’s protests, prosecutors have accelerated their investigation. Following a special talk for university students at the National Assembly building that day, Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il responded to questions from reporters on Lee’s claims of a “cobbled-together investigation for purposes of political retaliation.”

“We intend to do everything according to legal procedures,” Moon said in reply.

The previous evening, the second investigation division of Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office under chief prosecutor Song Kyung-ho detained two of Lee’s closest associates, former Blue House general affairs and planning secretary Kim Baek-joon and second secretary for civil affairs Kim Jin-mo. They also reportedly obtained a recent additional statement during their questioning of former personal presidential secretary Kim Hee-joong, who said that around US$100,000 in NIS special activity funds in US currency were delivered to employees of the President and First Lady’s official residence in Oct. 2011.

As the time coincided with preparations for a US visit by Lee, prosecutors are focusing their investigation on the possibility that the funds were used during his overseas travels. While Lee’s camp continues to insist the charges of NIS “tribute” payments are a form of political revenge, the claims are being undercut by statements by his closest associates supporting the allegations under questioning by prosecutors.

Meanwhile, a Seoul Dongbu Prosecutors’ Office team investigating the DAS case under chief prosecutor Moon Chan-seok conducted a raid the same morning on the offices and residences of individuals connected with DAS partner company IM in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. IM is an automobile parts company where Lee Dong-hyeong, son of DAS chairman and Lee Myung-bak’s older brother Lee Sang-eun, has served as CEO.

By Kim Nam-il, Seo Young-ji, and Shin Ji-min, staff reporters

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]