The joint prosecution-police investigation headquarters, currently investigating alleged collusion between politics and a religious group, summoned a legislative aide to Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Chun Jae-soo as a suspect on suspicion of destroying evidence. As investigators probe how a PC hard drive at the district office was discarded ahead of an investigation into alleged cash received from the Unification Church, the inquiry appears to be widening to whether Chun's office ordered it.
The joint team has been questioning aide A since 10 a.m. on the 3rd. A is suspected of discarding a PC hard drive just before police moved to search and seize Chun's district office in December last year. A earlier was said to have told police that the hard drive was thrown away in a nearby field. Investigators secured the hard drive at the time, but it was reportedly already damaged.
In this round of questioning, the joint team is expected to examine the circumstances of the hard drive's disposal, whether Chun gave an order, and whether there was organizational involvement by the office. Earlier, in February, the team executed search and seizure warrants on Chun's National Assembly office and on staff members on suspicion of evidence destruction. With even allegations surfacing that the sound of a document shredder was heard inside the office during the police search and seizure in December last year, the probe has zeroed in on whether this was an individual's deviation or an organized response.
Chun's side says the incident occurred while the staffer was organizing personal files. It explained that as soon as this was recognized at the National Assembly office, the office ordered data recovery and carried out recovery measures at the time.
Chun is suspected of receiving 20 million won in cash and one luxury watch worth 10 million won from the Unification Church around 2018, along with a request related to a Korea-Japan undersea tunnel. Chun denied the allegations during questioning by the joint team in Mar.