South Korea's parliament voted yesterday to launch a new probe into fraud allegations against presidential opposition frontrunner Lee Myung-bak two days before the country goes to the polls.
A specially appointed independent lawyer will investigate claims including share-rigging, faking documents and embezzlement against Lee, the favorite in tomorrow's election, in the wake of new video evidence.
Analysts said Lee is still expected to win the presidency, but that the affair would cloud his first months in office.
PHOTO: AP
It was unclear when the new probe would start. If elected, he would assume office on Feb. 25 and as president would have immunity from prosecution.
The business-friendly Lee, 65, was cleared on Dec. 5 of a fraud allegedly engineered by his business partner and linked to the BBK investment firm.
However, government allies accused prosecutors of bias and pushed for an independent probe.
Some 160 lawmakers voted in favor of appointing the special counsel, with none against. Lee's conservative Grand National Party (GNP) did not participate.
"The motion on appointing an independent counsel has been passed," a parliamentary official said.
Pressure to reopen the probe was spurred on Sunday with the release of a video clip recorded in 2000 in which Lee appears to say during a speech at a university that he founded BBK.
He had previously denied involvement in the firm.
The video clip came to light after police arrested three men for trying to extort 2 billion won (US$3.2 million) from the GNP in return for withholding the tape.
Lee, a 65-year-old former construction executive, is seen by many as the candidate best suited to reinvigorate the economy after years of relatively modest growth.
When the deadline for opinion polls expired last week, he was almost 30 percentage points ahead of his closest rival.
The request for a special investigator was sent to the government yesterday for approval, and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun is expected to endorse it, presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon said.
Roh told his justice minister on Sunday to consider reopening the prosecution probe, an action denounced by the GNP as interference in the election.
Roh is barred by the Constitution from standing for a second five-year term. Most of his political allies are members of the newly formed UNDP.
The justice ministry side-stepped Roh's call yesterday but said it would accept any inquiry by an independent counsel.
Lee said yesterday that he made "erroneous remarks" in the university speech while he was promoting a separate new business venture. But he again denied he had owned BBK.
Opponents went for the jugular.
"As of yesterday, GNP candidate Lee Myung-bak is nothing more than a criminal," UNDP candidate Chung Dong-Young said. "He must immediately stand down."
Analysts said the GNP candidate was still expected to win.
The video "will deal a painful but not lethal blow to Lee Myung-bak," said Chun In-young, a political science professor at Seoul National University.
Chun said Lee will still likely win but will be damaged while in office by the possibility of being questioned by an independent counsel, adding: "It may be hard for him to push for strong policies in office."
Taiwan last night blanked world No. 1 Japan 4-0 to win the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time. Taiwanese ace Lin Yu-min (林昱珉) held defending champions Japan to just one hit and no runs in the first four innings, before catcher Lin Chia-cheng (林家正) opened the fifth inning with a solo home run. That was soon followed by a three-run homer from Taiwanese captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) to put Taiwan ahead in the prestigious tournament of the world’s top 12 baseball teams. In addition to a superb performance from 21-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Lin, three more Taiwanese pitchers
SUPPORT: Arms sales to NATO Plus countries such as Japan, South Korea and Israel only have to be approved by the US Congress if they exceed US$25m The US should amend a law to add Taiwan to the list of “NATO Plus” allies and streamline future arms sales, a US commission said on Tuesday in its annual report to the US Congress. The recommendation was made in the annual report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), which contained chapters on US-China economic and trade ties, security relations, and Taiwan and Hong Kong. In the chapter on Taiwan, the commission urged the US Congress to “amend the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 to include Taiwan on the list of ‘NATO Plus’ recipients,” referring to
Taiwan yesterday advanced to the gold medal match of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time in history, despite last night losing 9-6 to Japan. Taiwan advanced after the US defeated Venezuela in the first game on the last day of the Super Round. However, the US had no chance of advancing to the championship game unless it defeated Venezuela by at least nine points. The US won 6-5. As a result, the two teams — who both had one win and two losses in the Super Round — are to face off again in the
Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊) said she would tender her resignation following criticism of her handling of alleged bullying by Ministry of Labor Workforce Development Agency branch director Hsieh Yi-jung (謝宜容) resulting in the death of an employee. The ministry yesterday gave Hsieh two demerits and said she is subject to review by the Disciplinary Court. The severest possible punishment would be her removal from office and being barred from government jobs indefinitely. Workforce Development Agency Director-General Tsai Meng-liang (蔡孟良) also received a major demerit and was transferred to another position. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) issued a formal apology
RSS