ID :
51803
Mon, 03/23/2009 - 07:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/51803
The shortlink copeid
President vows heavy penalty for corrupt officials
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak warned Monday government officials will be held accountable for every penny of the budget they execute following a recent series of embezzlement cases involving government officials at various levels.
"The government will be lenient to officials who make simple mistakes while
working hard, but will make an example of those who engage in corruption," the
president said in his biweekly national address via radio.
The remarks came after a 38-year-old official from a district office in
Yangcheon, Seoul, was arrested last month on suspicion of embezzling over 2.6
billion won (US$1.85 million) from a state fund for the disabled.
An official from Seoul's Yongsan district office was also charged earlier in the
month on suspicions of misappropriating over 100 million won.
"This truly is a shameful act," Lee said, noting the funds allegedly stolen by
the officials was meant for those who most need them.
"I cannot understand how government officials, who must (already) be working with
a sense of regret for not being able to help more, could commit such ac act," he
added.
The president said all of the government funds spent will now carry the name of
the official who authorizes the spending while those caught embezzling or
misusing taxpayers' money will be forced to pay back twice as much.
"People often refer to tax as 'paid for by one's blood.' I guess this means the
money is so precious because it is paid for by the people's blood and sweat,"
said the president.
The recent corruption scandals have placed the government under mounting public
criticism for seeking to win parliamentary approval for a 30-trillion-won
supplementary budget, the largest in history, while doing little to ensure
transparency in spending.
Lee said the extra budget was necessary to fight the ongoing economic crisis.
"We can save jobs and our economy only if the government injects more money," he
said.
The president said the extra budget will help create 550,000 jobs while providing
additional benefits to some 2.6 million people.
"I will thoroughly monitor to make sure even the smallest amount of money,
whether it is from a supplementary budget or welfare benefits, does not go to
waste," Lee said.
SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak warned Monday government officials will be held accountable for every penny of the budget they execute following a recent series of embezzlement cases involving government officials at various levels.
"The government will be lenient to officials who make simple mistakes while
working hard, but will make an example of those who engage in corruption," the
president said in his biweekly national address via radio.
The remarks came after a 38-year-old official from a district office in
Yangcheon, Seoul, was arrested last month on suspicion of embezzling over 2.6
billion won (US$1.85 million) from a state fund for the disabled.
An official from Seoul's Yongsan district office was also charged earlier in the
month on suspicions of misappropriating over 100 million won.
"This truly is a shameful act," Lee said, noting the funds allegedly stolen by
the officials was meant for those who most need them.
"I cannot understand how government officials, who must (already) be working with
a sense of regret for not being able to help more, could commit such ac act," he
added.
The president said all of the government funds spent will now carry the name of
the official who authorizes the spending while those caught embezzling or
misusing taxpayers' money will be forced to pay back twice as much.
"People often refer to tax as 'paid for by one's blood.' I guess this means the
money is so precious because it is paid for by the people's blood and sweat,"
said the president.
The recent corruption scandals have placed the government under mounting public
criticism for seeking to win parliamentary approval for a 30-trillion-won
supplementary budget, the largest in history, while doing little to ensure
transparency in spending.
Lee said the extra budget was necessary to fight the ongoing economic crisis.
"We can save jobs and our economy only if the government injects more money," he
said.
The president said the extra budget will help create 550,000 jobs while providing
additional benefits to some 2.6 million people.
"I will thoroughly monitor to make sure even the smallest amount of money,
whether it is from a supplementary budget or welfare benefits, does not go to
waste," Lee said.
