After the three special counsel probes, a second comprehensive special counsel looking into remaining suspicions recently asked the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office human rights violation inspection task force (TF) to take over a case involving alleged "coaxing of testimony."
Acting Prosecutor General Koo Ja-hyun appeared for an agency report before the National Assembly's "Special Committee on a National Investigation into the Alleged Fabricated Indictments by the Political Prosecution under the Yoon Suk-yeol Administration" on the 3rd and said, "We are currently proceeding with the relevant procedures," and stated accordingly.
The case for which the comprehensive special counsel requested transfer alleges that on May 17, 2023, during questioning at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office of former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace Lee Hwa-young, former SSANGBANGWOOL Group Chairman Kim Sung-tae, and former SSANGBANGWOOL Vice Chairman Bang Yong-cheol, outside food such as salmon and soju were brought in to coax them. The Ministry of Justice ordered an inspection to begin in Sep. last year, and the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office human rights violation inspection TF has been currently investigating for seven months.
The comprehensive special counsel's position is that this case falls under the second comprehensive special counsel act. Under Article 2, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 13 of the special counsel act, it provides that cases may be investigated in which former President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee received reports on investigation circumstances related to their own or others' cases and, regarding procedures for investigation and indictment, violated due process through concealment, cover-up, or coaxing of cases, or caused abuse of authority by investigative agencies.
Meanwhile, Acting Chief Koo said of the National Assembly launching a national investigation into the "fabricated indictments" suspicion during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, "I feel very heavy and troubled that allegations of fabricated indictments by the prosecution are being mentioned and have even led to a national investigation."
He added, "I, along with other chief prosecutors, will answer faithfully, but it is also true that there are various concerns since many cases are related to ongoing trials."
Koo said, "I earnestly ask you to take into account the parts that would have investigators or prosecutors in charge of investigations or duties on the front lines give testimony from the witness stand."