[Editorial] No Stones should be Left Unturned

The Prosecution tentatively concluded that Aim Dae-up, who raised allegations that the Grand National Party(GNP) presidential candidate Lee Hoi-chang`s son evaded military service, might raise false accusation against Lee`s son. The news disappointed the public because it appears as if the entire nation has been embroiled in a mess for two months because of the groundless allegations by an unreliable person. The blame should go to the political sector, which has recklessly politicize the issue.

That is why the prosecution should dig deep into the case to reveal the truth. The investigation into the case started with a lawsuit and counter lawsuit for defamation. But as a number of other allegations and suspicions have been added in the process of the probe, making it impossible for the prosecution to just figure out which side is at fault. Moreover, rival parties are still mired in generating groundless allegations against each other.

The prosecution should clarify the controversial part of the case at least to help the confused public make an informed judgement and to put an end to the consuming tit for tat in the political sector. First of all, the prosecution will have to figure out whether the audiotape submitted by Kim Dae-up as the only evidence is manipulated or not. It should figure out who and why did it if the tape is manipulated. It should leave no stones unturned. Only then, the prosecution will be able to restore its disgraced prestige.

The prosecution must also put Rep. Chun Yong-taek and Rep. Lee Had-chan of the Millennium Democratic Party(MDP) on the investigation list to find out whether there is any link between Kim and the MDP lawmakers. Rep. Lee had said that the prosecution asked him to take issue with the draft-dodging scandal. Rep. Chun drew up a report containing the strategy to raise controversy over the scandal including the appointment of Kim as a special advisor for a committee to address the draft-dodging scandal.

Prosecutors should not limit the investigation to the examination of the submitted audiotape, then wrap up the probe with ambiguous conclusion that Kim is not guilty due to lack of evidence.

For this kind of case will, if left unsolved, backfire, and the prosecution will be the biggest victim of the residual effect.