[Yonhap News Photo]
SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Aju News) -- South Korea's conservative ex-president Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday slammed a widening investigation by state prosecutors into alleged wrongdoing under his tenure as political retaliation targeting him.
In a brief televised speech, Lee denied any wrongdoing and accused prosecutors of "harassing" public officials who served for his administration. "The ultimate responsibility of all that happened during my tenure is in me."
"The recent prosecution investigation ... is obviously targeting me from the beginning," the former president said, adding he felt "terrible" about a political reprisal aimed at reversing history.
Lee served as president from 2008 to 2013 after succeeding Roh Moo-hyun, a liberal leader who jumped from a mountain cliff behind his rural home in the southeastern city of Gimhae on May 23, 2009, following a humiliating probe by prosecutors into alleged corruption involving his family.
The surprise suicide of Roh, a long-time friend of President Moon Jae-in, sparked allegations about political retaliation by the Lee government.
"Many people see the prosecution investigation as a political plot to wipe out conservative groups and also political retaliation for the death of former president Roh Moo-hyun," Lee said.
Lee's statement came after Kim Paik-joon, one of his confidants, was arrested overnight for taking more than 400 million won (375,000 US dollars) from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) between 2008 and 2012. Kim has often been dubbed Lee's "butler".
Another former aide, Kim Jin-mo, was arrested Tuesday on charges of taking about 50 million won in NIS money.
Lee has been frequently mentioned as the next target of prosecution after his jailed successor, Park Geun-hye, who is on trial for her role in a corruption scandal. Prosecutors have raided the head office of DAS, an auto parts supplier for Hyundai Motor, to find evidence related to a secret fund allegedly stacked for Lee.
Civic group activists and outspoken lawyers claimed Lee is the real owner of DAS, which is controlled by his elder brother and produces seats and seat structures. There have been unconfirmed allegations that DAS embezzled company money and evaded taxes to create a slush fund worth 12 billion won.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
