Key witness in probe into Pres. Lee leaves for China

The older brother of President Lee Myung-bak, Lee Sang-eun, who is a key witness in an independent investigation into suspicions over a land purchase for the president`s retirement home in Seoul, left for China Monday in a surprise move.

The special counsel team held a ceremony Monday to launch its probe at Herapis Building in Seoul’s Seocho-dong neighborhood, and imposed overseas travel bans for more than 10 people of interest Tuesday, including President Lee’s son Shi-hyeong.

The people subject to the probe reportedly include those involved in the purchase of property where President Lee’s retirement home was to be built, including Kim In-jong, former chief of his security team, and Kim Baek-joon, former presidential secretary for general affairs planning. The president and his wife were not included.

In addition to Lee Sang-eun, the seller of the property is also confirmed to have left the country May 12. The special counsel can conduct the probe for up to 45 days, and if Lee Sang-eun fails to return, it might have to end the probe without grilling a key figure in the case.

The team said Tuesday, “We submitted documents to the Justice Ministry to impose an overseas travel ban for Lee Sang-eun, but he was found to have left the country already.”

President Lee`s brother allegedly loaned his nephew Shi-hyeong 600 million won (540,000 U.S. dollars) and charged annual interest of 5 percent from 1.12 billion won (1 million dollars) in the required costs for the controversial purchase of the land. Lee Sang-eun is considered the most important witness in the investigation on the source of funds used to buy the property.

According to law enforcement authorities and DAS, the company headed by Lee Sang-eun, the president`s brother boarded a flight bound for China at Incheon International Airport Monday. A DAS source told The Dong-A Ilbo Tuesday, “Chairman Lee was accompanied by several staff on a scheduled business trip to DAS’ Chinese plant.”

The company gave different answers on his return, however. In a phone interview with Dong-A, a DAS source said, “His return schedule hasn`t been confirmed, but he will return by the end of this month.”

In a phone call with another media outlet, however, Das staff reportedly said, “It`s not known when he`ll return.”

The legal and political circles blasted Lee Sang-eun`s departure as “inappropriate behavior.” Even if the trip had been scheduled for business, his departure from the country as a key witness just ahead of the start of the independent investigation could easily spark the suspicion that he fled to avoid questioning, critics said.

Lee Sang-eun is also known to have not informed the presidential office of his departure. A source with a law enforcement agency said, “Lee Sang-eun didn`t coordinate with the presidential office about his departure schedule, but seems to have no intention to dodge the probe,” adding, “If he wanted to avoid the probe, he would have sent Shi-hyeong (overseas) first.”

jks@donga.com