Prosecutors, Don't Think of Covering Up GNP Bribery Investigation

Assembly Speaker Park Hee-tae underwent a "home call investigation" at the Speaker's official residence a couple of days ago.Prosecutors seem to be trying to bring the investigation into the Grand National Party (now Saenuri Party) convention bribery case to an end with their investigation of Park.The dominant observation is that Park will be indicted without detention. This is because the parties involved are denying the charges and former senior presidential secretary for political affairs Kim Hyo-jae, who was head of the election camp's situation room at the time, has not given testimony that could prove the envelopes of money were distributed on Park's orders.The point is that while the prosecutors really tried to investigate diligently, it didn't turn out well for them. But really, did they? Prosecutors ran to his official residence out of courtesy for a sitting assembly speaker and, during the course of the investigation, they called Park "Speaker" rather than the usual "Affiant (i.e., Suspect)."Would a proper investigation be possible with prosecutors taking such a "humble stance"? Prosecutors investigated only once a Mr. Gwak, the "horn-rimmed glasses man" who handed 3 million won to the office of Rep. Koh Seung-duk.When asked by reporters yesterday whether additional investigations were needed, prosecutors responded with a no.Prosecutors mustn't think of ending the investigation by turning Park and Kim over to trial. The embers will continue to burn as long as the source and total of the money handed out by Park remain unrevealed.Aren't the possibilities being raised that the funds handed out were the leftovers from the presidential campaign fund or money from pro-Lee Myung-bak figures? Prosecutors must investigate everyone who accepted money, too.Article 50 of the Political Party Law says that a person who gives out or accepts valuables in relation to elections for party chairperson are to receive up to three years in jail or up to 6 million won in fines.Park emphasized "practices," saying it was true that there were practices a bit outside the scope of the law, but regardless of whether they were practices or something else, if there were illegalities, an investigation is unavoidable.Saenuri Party emergency committee chairwoman Park Geun-hye, too, should ask prosecutors to thoroughly investigate those involved within her party before the nomination process is completed and exclude those involved from nomination.If not, it will seem as if Park herself is admitting that her talk of "separating from the mistakes of the past" and "bold reform" is nothing more than political rhetoric.Justice Minister Kwon Jae-jin said at the commission ceremony for new prosecutors yesterday that they must adhere to principles and standards and respond sternly to crime, irrespective of the rank of those involved.He said they must process the cases they undertake with a persistent will to uncover the truth and draw out conclusions with which all can agree. The people want "conclusions everyone can agree with," as Kwon said.If the investigation of the GNP bribery scandal cannot produce that kind of conclusion, this matter, like the "DDoS terror" case, must go to a special prosecutor.Is it OK for prosecutors if each case of public interest goes to a special prosecutor? Where has the pride of the prosecutors gone? (Editorial, The Kyunghyang Daily News. February 21, 2012)

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