South Korea's Constitutional Court rejected a petition yesterday seeking to halt a probe of President-elect Lee Myung-bak over financial fraud allegations, subjecting the incoming leader to an embarrassing criminal inquiry before he takes office next month.
The investigation, set to begin in earnest next week, has been considered a blemish on Lee's landslide win in the December 19 election. He may have to undergo questioning, undermining his authority before he is sworn in February 25.
Lee, a conservative former Seoul mayor, has denied the accusations and pledged to abandon his presidency if found at fault.
Relatives and former business partners of Lee filed the petition last month to pre-empt the probe, claiming several clauses of the law authorizing the investigation were unconstitutional.
But the court ruled in a verdict read on national TV by Judge Lee Kang-kook that only one clause - which would have enabled investigators to take witnesses into custody for questioning without a warrant - violated the constitution. The court said the probe could go on if that clause was not invoked.
Lee's Grand National Party called yesterday's ruling "disappointing," but said it would respect the decision.
"Truth will be brought to light again through the special investigation," said party spokeswoman Na Kyung-won.
Outgoing President Roh Moo-hyun appointed an independent counsel earlier this week to investigate the case for up to 40 days.
It is widely believed the probe would not lead to any punishment for Lee because the constitution grants sitting presidents immunity from criminal lawsuits unless they are accused of serious crimes such as treason.
That means Lee would have to be convicted before his February 25 inauguration, which is practically impossible because appeals would drag court procedures past that day.
Prosecutors already cleared Lee of any wrongdoing in early December, but the scandal resurfaced after rivals released video footage with him saying he founded the investment firm at the center of the rigging allegations. Lee has said his comments were taken out of context.
The liberal-controlled National Assembly passed the special investigation law just two days ahead of the presidential vote, dismissing the prosecutors' findings, but the corruption allegations failed to disrupt Lee's march toward the presidential Blue House.
Rice to attend inauguration
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will attend the inauguration next month of Lee Myung-bak as South Korea's president, one of his aides said yesterday.
US President George W. Bush conveyed his plan to send Rice to the February 25 event through Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, who met Lee in Seoul earlier yesterday, said Kim Ba-reun.
Hill also conveyed Bush's invitation for Lee to visit Washington, and he responded he would travel to the US soon after his inauguration, Kim said.
Lee has said improving relations with the US will be a priority for his government.
The administration of current President Roh Moo-hyun has had awkward relations with Washington, with the sides differing most notably on Seoul's policy of engagement with the North.
Source: China Daily/Agencies
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