Prosecution Considers Indicting “JP” without Restraint

The Supreme Public Prosecutor`s Office is examining whether to indict the former leader of the United Liberal Democrats (ULD), Kim Jong-pil, who allegedly received 1.5 billion won in bonds from Samsung during the local election in 2002 without physical restraint on April 30.

The prosecution has made it a rule to restrain the politicians who received more than one billion won of slush funds. However, it was reported that it made an exception in Kim’s case considering that he is of an advanced age.

Prosecutor-General Song Kwang-soo mentioned about the report, “We will carefully examine this matter. Nothing has been decided yet.”

The prosecution informed Kim of answering the summons, and it is tuning the schedule with Kim.

When Kim appears in person, prosecutors will investigate if he received 600 million won from Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. through the former Construction and Transportation minister and then-Korea Land Corporation leader Kim Yong-chae in 2002.

If the allegation proves to be true, however, it is difficult to punish him as three years of the legal prescription of the case have passed.

Meanwhile, Song, about the timing for the compulsory arrest of the ULD’s Rep. Lee In-jae, said, “We will have enough time to examine and discuss before the execution, given the recent miserable accident.” (The suicide of governor of Jolla Province Park Tae-young)

jin0619@donga.com