The independent counsel probing President Lee Myung-bak’s retirement home scandal has reportedly secured a court warrant to search the presidential security office.

The special inquiry team, led by counsel Lee Kwang-bum, is said to be coordinating with the presidential office over the method and the time for what will be the first raid of a Cheong Wa Dae office.

It remains to be seen whether the action can actually performed as the team, in principle, must secure approval from high-level government offices even though investigators have a warrant, observers said.

Some observers say that the team is likely to ask the Presidential Security Service to offer the materials they want rather than combing through Cheong Wa Dae.

As the team’s legal inquiry period expires on Wednesday, observers say that the team could carry out the search early this week. It has requested that the president extend the period by 15 days as the law permits.

Lee was to return home later in the afternoon after his overseas trip to Indonesia and Thailand.

The counsel team has been investigating a dubious land purchase by the first family and the security service last year where the president planned to build a retirement home.

They have questioned Lee Si-hyung, the president’s only son, who was the purchaser on the side of the first family, and Lee Sang-eun, the president’s older brother who loaned Si-hyung half of the money to buy the land. They are currently asking to question Kim Yoon-ok, the first lady.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)