Diplomatic passport issued to ex-defense chief banned from travel after appointment as ambassador: official

Former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, banned from overseas travel over an alleged influence-peddling case related to the death of a young Marine, has been issued a diplomatic passport as he was named the new top envoy to Australia, a foreign ministry official said Thursday. On Monday, the ministry announced Lee's appointment as the new ambassador to Australia, which drew criticism as Lee has been a subject in the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials' (CIO) probe in connection with the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who died in July last year while on a search mission amid heavy downpours. "It is customary for the new chief of a diplomatic mission to apply for a diplomatic passport when he is appointed, and the diplomatic passport is issued accordingly," the official said. He added that the passport was issued as Lee is "not subject" to administrative sanction measures under the country's Passport Act. On Thursday, the CIO summoned Lee for questioning. The CIO has been looking into alle gations that Lee exerted influence to hold off the findings of an internal probe by the Marines on Chae's death. Suspicions had it that Chae was forced by his superiors to push ahead with the risky rescue operation without proper safety measures. The Marines' top investigator in charge of the case has been indicted on charges of insubordination and defamation after he handed over the probe results on Chae to the civilian police in defiance of Lee's orders. Lee was banned from leaving South Korea in January Source: Yonhap News Agency