Lee Kun-Hee (C), former Samsung Group chairman, leaves after his trial at the Seoul High Court in Seoul last August
February 7, 2010
(AFP) – 1 day ago
VANCOUVER — Jacques Rogge defended the controversial reinstatement of former Samsung chief Lee Kun-Hee to the IOC, saying his amnesty by the Korean president on tax evasion charges meant he was cleared of wrongdoing.
The billionaire businessman, who voluntarily gave up his rights and duties as an IOC member in 2008 following his conviction, was pardoned by Korean President Lee Myung-Bak in December.
His reinstatement as a member of the International Olympic Committee came after a meeting of the body's executive board on the sidelines of the 2010 Winter Olympics on Sunday.
IOC president Rogge defended the move and dismissed concerns about the image of the Olympic body, which has long been tarnished by corruption allegations.
"Mr Lee was convicted in his country and was granted an amnesty. The amnesty alleviates the consequences of the criminal office," he said.
While Lee was readmitted to the organisation, he was also issued with a reprimand and suspended from the right to sit on any IOC commission for five years.
"The rules of the IOC are very clear -- when someone transgresses the rules or ethics or tarnishes the reputation of the IOC, a sanction must be given," said Rogge.
"The sanctions given to Mr Lee are exactly the same as applied to Guy Drut who also got an amnesty. So there was a precedent."
Drut, a former French sports minister, in 2006 was given a 15-month suspended jail sentence and a fine for picking up a 3,000 euro-a-month salary for a non-existent job with a building company from 1990 to 1993.
He was suspended from the IOC but after French President Jacques Chirac granted him an amnesty Drut was later readmitted.
Rogge denied that the IOC's image had been tarnished by reinstating a convicted criminal.
"I'd like to remind you that the IOC has expelled 10 members in the past for life, not for just one or two years," he said.
"We are tough on our members like we are tough on our athletes.
"I'll also point out that with Mr Lee, these were facts that were absolutely not related to sport."
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