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S Korea assembly to rule on probe | |
(about 19 hours later) | |
South Korea's Justice Ministry will not re-open an investigation into fraud allegations against a leading presidential candidate, Lee Myung-bak. | |
Earlier this month officials cleared him over a stock price manipulation case involving an ex-business partner. | Earlier this month officials cleared him over a stock price manipulation case involving an ex-business partner. |
However, the National Assembly is due to vote on an independent inquiry, and appears likely to approve it. | |
A former Hyundai executive who served as mayor of Seoul, Mr Lee, 65, is tipped to win Wednesday's election. | |
The opposition Grand National Party (GNP) candidate has a sizeable lead on his two rivals for the top job, polls suggest. | The opposition Grand National Party (GNP) candidate has a sizeable lead on his two rivals for the top job, polls suggest. |
Independent probe | |
On Sunday, the current President Roh Moo-hyun asked Justice Minister Chung Soung-jin to consider re-opening the investigation into Mr Lee in order to "relieve the public suspicion and regain the prosecution's trust". | |
The GNP accused President Roh of meddling in the election. | |
The inquiry cleared Mr Lee of involvement in a fraud case involving an investment company called BBK in 2001. | |
A Justice Ministry official said: "We will be accepting an independent counsel if parliament introduces it." | |
The governing United New Democratic Party backs the bill to appoint an independent counsel to investigate the allegations against Mr Lee. | |
President Roh, who leads a liberal coalition, ends his term in February and a victory by Mr Lee would see the GNP return to power for the first time in a decade. | |
The UNDP candidate, Chung Dong-young, has been badly trailing Mr Lee in opinion polls ahead of Wednesday's vote. | |
Mr Lee has promised to revive South Korea's economy as well as stronger ties with the US and a tougher line towards North Korea. | Mr Lee has promised to revive South Korea's economy as well as stronger ties with the US and a tougher line towards North Korea. |