South Korean prosecutors will speed up criminal investigation to bring former President Lee Myung-bak who returned home on Wednesday after questioning, to the court in April ahead of the major inter-Korean summit slated later in the month.

According to multiple sources from the prosecution and legal circle on Thursday, the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office will brief prosecutor-general Moon Moo-il on the findings and Lee’s statements later this week to gain his go-ahead for future proceedings.

State prosecutors are confident of having secured sufficient evidences to back as many as 20 charges ranging from power abuse, embezzlement to bribery and tax evasion against the former president.

Unlike the case of former president Park Geun-hye who succeeded Lee and was detained behind bars for nearly a year while being tried, the proceedings will be swift for Lee. “We are not questioning, but confirming one fact after another,” head of the investigation team Shin Bong-su, said.

Whether or not it is granted arrest warrant, the prosecution is reportedly hoping to hand over the case to the court by mid April at the latest.

Charges against Lee double those for Park whom prosecutors sought a 30-year prison term and a fine of 118.5 billion won ($110 million). The first court ruling on Park is due later this month or next month.

Lee, fifth Korean president to face criminal charges, is accused of all possible corruption in the book. He is accused of bribing and taking bribes, stacking away 30 billion won in an auto parts manufacturer DAS run by his family and relative members.

During 21-hour questioning, Lee denied most of the charges, claiming he has no relation to DAS or the land in Dogok-dong, southern Seoul, which is suspected of being under a borrowed name.

The Blue House maintained that it won’t interfere in the prosecutorial proceedings.

By Song Gwang-hoon and Lee Eun-joo

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]