Controversy Over Investigation Announcement

The prosecution made an announcement that the real owner of the land in Dogok-dong is not Lee Sang-eun, and the land appeared to be owned by a “third person.” But it didn’t mention who the third person is.

Many have pointed out that the prosecution’s announcement is unprecedented when compared with past practice. It decisively fueled the public’s questions about who owns the valuable land. In political circles, the announcement stirred up suspicions that former Seoul mayor Lee Myung-bak may be the real owner.

Faced with a protest visit by lawmakers who support Lee, Assistant Prosecutor Jeong Dong-ki of the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office said, “I’ve never made overtones that the land belongs to Lee.” The Third Assistant Prosecutor Kim Hong-il of Seoul District Seoul District Prosecutors` Office also stated, “There was no evidence pointing to Lee’s possession. If it were Lee’s, the prosecution would not have used the term “third person.”

In response, Lee’s camp took the remarks of the two prosecutors as if they had confirmed that “the land in Dogok-dong is not Lee’s.” However, high-ranking officials in the prosecution didn’t rule out the possibility of Lee’s possession in that their remarks were attached to the expression, “no evidence at this time.”

The prosecution made it clear that the investigation into Lee Sang-eun’s financers, Lee Byeong-mo and Lee Yeong-bae, who had withdrawn 10 million to 40 million won from his account every month from 2002 through this year would reveal the real owner. Prosecutor General Jeong Sang-myeong avoided commenting whether the GNP’s presidential forerunner Lee is the owner by saying that he had no idea about the real owner’s identity.

However, inside and outside the prosecution, rumors are flying that the investigation team obtained a clue indicating who the third person is.

An official in the investigation team commented, “(Though we have another piece of evidence pointing to the existence of a third person) we cannot make all information available to the public.”

Since there was no convincing evidence that enabled the prosecution to announce who the third person really is, it could not help but make an ambiguous announcement, he explained.

However, many pointed out that the prosecution should have postponed the announcement until it secures strong evidence if it is difficult for it to reveal all the investigation results at this time.

Prosecutor Kim Hong-il said on Tuesday, “In principle, the accusation case concerning the land in Dogok-dong was concluded with the announcement made on Monday.” But he left the possibility of resumption of the investigation by stating, “If Lee Byeong-mo and Lee Yeong-bae turn themselves in to the prosecution, the investigation is likely to be resumed.”

His remarks contradicted those that Justice Minister King Sung-ho made to GNP lawmakers, saying, “The investigation is over.” However, the probability of reopening the investigation is slight since the two Lees are not likely to cooperate in the investigation. Without their cooperation, a prerequisite of the resumption, there is no way for the prosecution to summon Lee Sang-eun.

A high-ranking official of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office said, “It is utterly impossible to expect them, who refuse to respond to the summons, to cooperate after the GNP primaries.”

The broad consensus is that though the investigation has been resumed, the prosecution is unlikely to share its findings once again.

With the suspicion that Lee Sang-eun is a nominal owner of the 5,000 square meter piece of land, the prosecution asked the court for a warrant in order to trace his bank accounts, but was turned down. Instead, it secured consent from Lee that allowed for going over his cash flows, but it found no useful information.

While the investigation team was trying to get to the bottom of the case, it hit several snags. People who were believed to have clues, including Kim Man-je, former chairman of POSCO, who ordered to buy the land in 1995, and financers of Lee Sang-eun, refused to appear for the prosecution.

Faced with such obstacles, the investigation team put its focus on gathering circumstantial evidence, summoning employees at POSCO Engineering & Construction Co. involved in purchasing of the land and bank officials who helped the withdrawal of money.

In this vein, Prosecutor General Jeong and Prosecutor Kim made remarks that “Eleven special prosecutors were engaged in the case for 40 days to trace bank account and cash flows. We did every thing.” And, “We exhausted all our means.”

Against this backdrop, people in the legal circle raise their voices that the prosecution shouldn’t have made the announcement without compelling evidence in the critical juncture ahead of the GNP primaries.

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