Opposition accuses Lee of illegal fund-raising, files complaint

SEOUL, June 5 (Yonhap) -- The main opposition party filed a complaint Friday
against President Lee Myung-bak and one of his confidants, accusing them of
illegal political fund-raising during the last presidential campaign.
The complaint by the Democratic Party (DP) alleges that Lee's close friend, Chun
Shin-il, gave the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) 3 billion won (US$2.4
million) as special membership fee ahead of the 2007 presidential election.
"Lee was the beneficiary of the financial transaction, while Chun was his
benefactor," the DP said in a statement.
"We know that an incumbent president is immune from indictment and trial. But
gathering evidence and investigating are not prohibited," it said.
The main opposition party, with 85 lawmakers in the 299-seat National Assembly,
has been gaining momentum in the political battle against the GNP ahead of a
parliamentary session scheduled for this month. Since former President Roh
Moo-hyun took his own life last month, the Lee Myung-bak government and the
ruling party have come under harsh public criticism for what opponents call a
"politically motivated" investigation into graft cases involving the Roh family.
Chun, known to have played a key role in Lee's campaign, has been under a
separate prosecutors' probe for allegedly taking millions of won in bribes from a
corrupt businessman, the same man accused of bribing Roh's family, and evading
taxes.
The inquiry, however, has been deadlocked since Roh's death and the court's
dismissal of an arrest warrant for Chun.
brk@yna.co.kr
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