PM`s Office Raided in Probe Into Illegal Inspection

Prosecutors searched the government ethics section of the Prime Minister’s Office Friday to investigate the illegal inspection of a private businessman.

This was the first time that the Prime Minister’s Office was searched by prosecutors.

Ten prosecutors and investigators went to the section at 10:20 a.m. and took computer data and documents on the illegal inspection, including reports, daily records and minutes, at the offices of four government officials. The raid took 4.5 hours.

Based on the seized materials, prosecutors are probing the section’s reporting system and will summon an unnamed official who allegedly ordered and received reports of the inspection on Kim Jong-ik, former head of the now defunct KB Hanmaeum, after the official`s identity is confirmed.

After intensive analysis of the seized materials, prosecutors will summon four officials from the section, including head Lee In-kyu, as suspects. The four will likely face arrest since the charges against them have been almost confirmed through testimony from witnesses.

A high-ranking official at the presidential office said, “Since the inspection was on a civilian, the section carried it out after getting the civilian’s consent,” adding, “A multi-faceted investigation is being conducted to verify the suspects’ statements.”

jefflee@donga.com srkim@donga.com