[Editorial] GNP Plea-Bargaining

The Grand National Party officially requested that the prosecution drop charges against those suspected of having played a part in the fund-raising scandal, also known as ‘sepung’. The request flatly shows the party`s disrespect for the law and the authority of the prosecution. The party argues that there is no precedent justifying the DA`s prosecution of a political fund scandal concerning presidential campaigns. This contention is widely off mark.

The scandal, whose investigation has been dragging on for five years now, involved mobilization of National Tax Service (NIS) officials by then ruling Grand National Party (GNP) to raise illegal political funds, or 16.6 billion won, for the presidential campaign. In the process, our tax law and system were manipulated. That is what lies at the core of this scandal, and the party itself knows it quite well.

The DA`s office drops its charges only exceptionally where the indictment is likely to be thrown out by the court due to lack of elements constituting a crime or incorrect application of the law. But the suspects now under investigation do not have any grounds of defense concerning either of them. It is also unprecedented for the politicians to demand that the prosecution drop the charges for political reasons. Of course, it is true a heated political debate is going on with regard to the real intent lying behind the resumption of the case. But what the law judges is not the background, but the act that breached the law itself.

Looking at the prosecution announcement, circumstances surrounding the scandal have become clearer. Former NIS Senior Official Lee Suk-hee did not volunteer to raise funds, contrary to allegations made by GNP members including Rep. Seo Sang-mok. The two conspired and cooperated with each other by dipping into company safes. In a nutshell, they encouraged the appalling behavior.

GNP is also trying to make its demands on grounds that the organization be politically disposed of in order to clear up past wrongdoings. This is not a very persuasive argument. Clearing up the past has nothing to do with putting things under the rug. If the case is dropped now, it will leave only a smear that could spark another political dispute later. The GNP has argued for the political neutrality of the prosecution. Paradoxically, however, it is demanding that the prosecution drop the case, which is basically against the law anyway. In addition, it promises not to voice sound opposition or demand for prosecution of any corruption scandal of the ruling party later on.

The GNP has argued that the scandal was manipulated and over-inflated. But its demand for dropping the charges is self-contradictory. If the GNP believes something is amiss, it should rely on the courts, not trifling political arguments.