Prosecutors' probe suspended after opposition protests



By Kim Da-ye



The prosecution raided a food distributor affiliated with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Wednesday, over allegations that it provided pesticide-contaminated ingredients to schools in Seoul.



The investigation is a potential blow to Park Won-soon, who is now seeking a second term as Seoul mayor as a candidate of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD).



This could be a key campaign issue ahead of the June 4 local elections. Park's side claims this is a typical example of political maneuvering by the prosecution ahead of crucial elections.



The raid on the Seoul Agro-Fisheries and Food Corp. in western Seoul, which provides food to schools under Seoul's free school meal program, came one day after Park and his rival candidate Chung Mong-joon of the ruling Saenuri Party, traded barbs over the quality of the food.



In a nationally televised debate, Chung attacked Park for being negligent about the pesticide issue, citing audit results from the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI).



Last week, the state auditor claimed the corporation's distributing arm, Orbon, knew that some food from its suppliers contained excessive pesticide residue.



However, it did not report this to the government, which would have banned those suppliers from supplying the food products.



As a result, those subcontractors continued to supply 4,331 kilograms of food worth 15.44 million won to 467 schools in Seoul between June 2012 and July 2013, BAI said.



The auditing body added that Orbon knew that 77 suppliers did not meet its standards for pesticide residue but let seven of them continue providing vegetables to schools. Prosecutors also raided the office of Orbon.



During the debate, Park said the audit results were not true, saying no ingredients with excessive pesticide residue were served to students.



Park argued that no school meals containing pesticide were provided to students because the affiliates of the Seoul city government examine produce for pesticides every day and throw away all ingredients found to be contaminated.



After the prosecution raided Orbon, Lee Soo-hee, spokesman for Chung, issued a statement demanding that Park apologize for offering contaminated school meals to children.



Park's campaign held a countermeasure meeting and condemned the prosecution's investigation.



"We have strong suspicions that the ruling party is launching political manipulation to kill Park Won-soon," Jin Sung-joon, Park's spokesman, said.



