Investigation Review Committee Recommends Continued Investigation and Prosecution for Lee Dong-jae, Suspension and Non-Prosecution for Han Dong-hoon... Investigation Set to Face Obstacles
Former Channel A reporter Dongjae Lee (left) and Prosecutor General Donghoon Han.
View original image[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] On the 24th, the Prosecution Investigation Deliberation Committee's Current Issues Subcommittee regarding the Channel A reporter and prosecution collusion case decided with opinions of ‘continue investigation and prosecution’ for former Channel A reporter Lee Dong-jae, and ‘stop investigation and non-prosecution’ for Chief Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon.
Since an overwhelming majority of the committee members expressed negative opinions about Chief Prosecutor Han’s alleged conspiracy relationship, it is expected that the prosecution investigation will inevitably face setbacks.
At the Current Issues Subcommittee held at 2 p.m. at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong, Seoul, the members listened to the opinions of former VIK CEO Lee Cheol’s side who requested the convening of this investigation deliberation committee, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office investigation team, former reporter Lee, and Chief Prosecutor Han in sequence, and after discussion, reached this conclusion.
According to the investigation deliberation committee, in the vote conducted with all 15 members of the Current Issues Subcommittee present except Chairman Yang Chang-soo, 12 members expressed opinions to continue the investigation on former reporter Lee, and 9 members expressed opinions to prosecute.
On the other hand, regarding Chief Prosecutor Han, 10 members expressed opinions to stop the investigation, and 11 members expressed opinions for non-prosecution, the committee reported.
The investigation deliberation committee added, “Considering comprehensively the public’s right to know about this case and the seriousness of the matter, it was decided to disclose the resolution contents.”
Regarding the results of the investigation deliberation committee, Chief Prosecutor Han’s lawyer stated, “We appreciate the committee’s wise decision.”
On March 31, MBC reported that a Channel A reporter boasted of his friendship with Chief Prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol’s closest aide and threatened former CEO Lee to provide corruption information related to Rho Moo-hyun Foundation Chairman Yoo Si-min.
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Subsequently, a complaint was filed by a civic group, and the investigation began at the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jin-ung). However, when the investigation team tried to request an arrest warrant for former reporter Lee, Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol decided to convene a professional investigation advisory group and put a brake on it. Then, Seoul Central District Prosecutor Lee Seong-yoon demanded the suspension of the advisory group’s convening and an independent investigation by the Central District Prosecutors' Office, causing conflict with Prosecutor General Yoon.
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