U.S. Will Start Lee Seuk-Hee`s Extradition Trial

The Ministry of Justice announced yesterday that the District Court of Michigan will have an acknowledgement examination on former Deputy Commissioner of the National Tax Service Lee Seuk-Hee, who was arrested by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, on 19th.

An official of the Ministry of Justice said, "Through an identity confirmation process, the court will check that Lee is the right person the Korean government requested to arrest."

The Ministry also announced that, after the confirmation of Lee`s identity, the Federal District Court of Michigan will hold a trial to decide whether the U.S. will extradite Lee to the Korean government.

An official of the Ministry said, "Apart from the Federal District Court`s extradition decision, there are several procedures for Lee`s hand over, including the U.S. Department of Justice`s final decision of extradition. Thus, it is hard to predict the exact extradition time." He also announced that, watching the trial process, the Ministry of Justice will decide whether it will request Lee`s early extradition to the U.S. government.

Myoung-Gun Lee gun43@donga.com