Prosecutors Will Stand by Principles in Investigating NIS

Upon the Grand National Party’s request, the Special Investigation Team of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office commenced an investigation of six National Intelligence Service (NIS) officials, including current NIS Director Kim Man-bok, former director Kim Seung-gyu, and ex-deputy director Lee Sang-eop, on July 19.

Prosecutors are planning to summon related lawmakers, starting with Kim Hyeok-gyu’s spokesperson and Uri Party lawmaker, Kim Jong-ryul, who first exposed the suspicion of GNP presidential frontrunner Lee Myung-bak’s camouflaged move-in.

“Will Investigate NIS by Principles”-

Prosecutors are feeling the pressure as they investigate the NIS once again, two years after the NIS wiretapping case of 2005.

An executive in the Supreme Public Prosecutors’ Office said, “It is unfortunate that the information agency is being investigated again and again, but we will stick to our principles.” In other words, there will be no detour in investigating the nation’s top information agency, with the presidential election fast approaching. “We will examine the NIS’ own inspection report and decide whether to conduct a search and seizure,” he added.

Prosecutors are likely to investigate how related information was leaked after first figuring out whether the NIS had been investigating politicians, including Lee, and how.

Prosecutors will focus on whether NIS staff accessed the governmental online network, which contains real estate and tax information, and whether the NIS leaked personal information collected from government institutions.

Investigating Allegations on Presidential Contenders-

On July 19, prosecutors announced a plan to summon former POSCO chairman Kim Man-je to check whether Lee asked him to purchase the land in Dogok-dong in 1993-94 through POSCO Development (currently POSCO Construction).

Prosecutors are also urging Lee’s brother Lee Sang-eun, who was co-owner of the land and left for Japan on July 12, to return to clarify facts as a main reference.

In addition, prosecutors summoned Uri lawmaker Kim Jong-ryul. As the GNP requested an investigation of him and Kim Hyeok-gyu for acquiring the resident registration copies of Lee’s relatives illegally, the two lawmakers made a counter action for defamation of character.

The Public Security Department I of Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office (headed by Oh Se-in) arrested GNP member Kim Hae-ho (58), who criticized former GNP representative Park Geun-hye and late pastor Choi Tae-min, on the suspicion of transgressing the public election law.

Prosecutors recently summoned Choi’s five daughters, who accused Kim, to investigate whether Choi accumulated wealth unjustly by running the Yuk-Young Foundation as Kim alleges.

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