Sad re-investigation results of surveillance scandal

Prosecutors on Wednesday announced the results of a re-investigation into illegal civilian surveillance by the Prime Minister`s Office, but few believe that investigators got to the bottom of the illegal government action. The probe was resumed after Jang Jin-soo, a former action officer at the ethics section of the Prime Minister`s Office, blew the whistle in March. Prosecutors said behind the scandal were Park Young-joon, former vice minister for government policy at the Prime Minister`s Office; Lee Young-ho, former presidential secretary for employment and labor; and Lee In-kyu, an ethics officer at the Prime Minister`s Office. People doubt if prosecutors were willing to thoroughly investigate the matter since they failed to find important facts in their initial probe.

The re-investigation also failed to identify the mastermind above Park and Lee. Prosecutors only probed then senior presidential secretary for social policy and presidential chief of staff who were reported by Lee, excluding Justice Minister Kwon Jae-jin, a former senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, from the investigation. In addition, the probe`s conclusions were based on statements of the former that others in the presidential office were not informed of the illegal surveillance. Nobody will say the probe was properly conducted. When Han Sang-dae was named prosecutor general, people said his appointment was to protect a lame duck president. Kwon is Han`s immediate superior, and this is why people have suspicions about Han intentionally trying to protect Kwon. The opposition camp is determined to investigate the government. Prosecutors have invited this situation.

Prosecutors also failed to trace the sources of 50 million won (43,000 U.S. dollars) in bribes Jang received from Ryu Chung-ryeol, a former public official management officer at the Prime Minister`s Office, and 34 million won (29,200 dollars) from Lee Sang-hui, a former presidential secretary for planning and promotion. There is no reason for Ryu and Lee Sang-hui to give hush money to Chang from their own pockets because they committed no crimes that warrant indictment. Despite this, prosecutors solely relied on the statements of those who gave the money.

After investigating 500 surveillance cases conducted by the Prime Minister`s Office, prosecutors pursued charges against just three cases conducted by Park at the request of private companies. Though the office illegally inspected politicians and civilians such as religious leaders, celebrities and businessmen, prosecutors failed to mete out the proper punishment. This is due to lack of relevant laws and regulations. Wiretapping and illegal tracing of bank accounts are subject to punishment under law, but illegal surveillance is not unless it is applicable to misfeasance. This is why the enactment of a law banning illegal surveillance is needed. The monitoring of Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, who is not a public official, was apparently a stretch of authority.

Illegal surveillance, wiretapping and unauthorized tracing of bank accounts by government organizations cannot be tolerated in a democracy. Protection of privacy is a basic right of the people that can only be compromised by a legal investigation. Only when illegal civilian surveillance is harshly punished can the government prevent a repeat of national crimes.