Former defense chief's lawyer questions need for special counsel probe

A lawyer for former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, a key suspect in allegations of external pressure on the military investigation into last year's death of a young Marine, said Wednesday he has asked a state anti-corruption investigation agency to speed up the probe into Lee, raising objection to a special counsel probe pushed by the opposition parties.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) has been investigating Lee as a power abuse suspect over allegations that he exerted influence to hold off the findings of an internal probe by the Marines on the death of the soldier during a search operation for victims of heavy downpours in July last year.

Lee resigned as ambassador to Australia late last month amid mounting criticism over his appointment and departure to Canberra despite being a suspect. The controversy surrounding Lee was a hot-button political issue before last week's general election, and opposition parties are now pushing to appoint a special counsel to probe Lee's case.

Lee's lawyer, Kim Jae-hun, said that he has submitted a written opinion to the CIO, saying its slow and drawn-out investigation has prompted calls from the political circles for a special counsel probe.

"Lee resigned from his post as ambassador to Australia to help reduce the CIO's burden of summoning an incumbent envoy. But the CIO has not contacted him yet. Probably because of the CIO's neglect of investigation, politicians are raising the need for a special counsel," the lawyer said.

An investigation agency that is not trusted by the National Assembly and the public has no reason to exist, he stressed.

The lawyer then reiterated his stance of denying the charges against Lee, saying the former minister conducted his duties fairly according to his official authority granted by law and did not commit any illegal acts.

Yonhap