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The independent counsel is considering charging President Lee Myung-bak’s son and several aides as the team wraps up its one-month inquiry into alleged irregularities in a canceled property deal.
Lee Kwang-bum plans to announce the result of the investigation Wednesday after Lee refused extend the investigation period by an additional 15 days.
Sources said Tuesday the special prosecutor is weighing indicting the president’s son Lee Si-hyung without detention. It may also file charges against several presidential officials, including Kim Baek-joon, former presidential secretary for administrative affairs, Kim In-jong, former chief of the Presidential Security Service, and Kim Tae-hwan, a security service official,
First lady Kim Yoon-ok on Wednesday sent written answers to the counsel’s questionnaire.
The first family allegedly paid below market prices for a plot in southern Seoul for Lee’s retirement home in 2011. The difference was allegedly offset by the Presidential Security Service, which bought the real estate together with Lee’s family.
Lee Si-hyung has been accused of misappropriation and breaches of the real name system for the real estate purchases when he bought the land on behalf of his father.
Lee Sang-eun, the president’s older brother, loaned 600 million won in cash to his nephew. The counsel has not identified the source of the money, which Lee Sang-eun claimed is part of proceeds from his stock investment.
The counsel failed to obtain the promissory note which Sang-eun gave to his nephew after Cheong Wa Dae objected Monday to the counsel’s search of the Presidential Security Office and refused to cooperate with the investigation citing security reasons.
“The extension of the investigation depends on the decision maker (President Lee), and we just follow the decision,” said Lee Kwang-bum, who has been leading the special counsel.
The special probe, which was launched on Oct. 15, can be extended to last 45 days, but only with the approval of President.
By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)
Lee Kwang-bum plans to announce the result of the investigation Wednesday after Lee refused extend the investigation period by an additional 15 days.
Sources said Tuesday the special prosecutor is weighing indicting the president’s son Lee Si-hyung without detention. It may also file charges against several presidential officials, including Kim Baek-joon, former presidential secretary for administrative affairs, Kim In-jong, former chief of the Presidential Security Service, and Kim Tae-hwan, a security service official,
First lady Kim Yoon-ok on Wednesday sent written answers to the counsel’s questionnaire.
The first family allegedly paid below market prices for a plot in southern Seoul for Lee’s retirement home in 2011. The difference was allegedly offset by the Presidential Security Service, which bought the real estate together with Lee’s family.
Lee Si-hyung has been accused of misappropriation and breaches of the real name system for the real estate purchases when he bought the land on behalf of his father.
Lee Sang-eun, the president’s older brother, loaned 600 million won in cash to his nephew. The counsel has not identified the source of the money, which Lee Sang-eun claimed is part of proceeds from his stock investment.
The counsel failed to obtain the promissory note which Sang-eun gave to his nephew after Cheong Wa Dae objected Monday to the counsel’s search of the Presidential Security Office and refused to cooperate with the investigation citing security reasons.
“The extension of the investigation depends on the decision maker (President Lee), and we just follow the decision,” said Lee Kwang-bum, who has been leading the special counsel.
The special probe, which was launched on Oct. 15, can be extended to last 45 days, but only with the approval of President.
By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)
