Witnesses Jeong Gyeong-sim and son in Choi Kang-wook trial... Refuse to testify following Cho Kuk

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Professor Jeong Gyeongshim of Dongyang University and her son Jo, who appeared at the trial of Representative Choi Kangwook, who was indicted on charges of falsely issuing an internship certificate for the son of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, refused to answer the prosecution's questions. They exercised their right to refuse to testify, just like former Minister Cho, who appeared as a witness at Professor Jeong's trial on the 3rd.

On the 15th, Professor Jeong appeared as a witness at the continuation trial of Representative Choi's obstruction of business charge, presided over by Judge Jeong Jonggeon of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 9, and stated, "I intend to refuse to testify entirely."

Right after the witness oath stating "If you testify falsely, you will be punished for perjury," Professor Jeong said, "I have something to say to the presiding judge," and explained, "The prosecution alleges that my son’s internship activities at Representative Choi’s office were false and has filed charges not only against Representative Choi but also against me. Therefore, I am currently on trial. Accordingly, I intend to refuse to testify in this court."

In response, the prosecution said, "Refusal to testify is one of the rights of a witness stipulated by the Criminal Procedure Act, so the request to refuse testimony itself cannot be blamed," but added, "However, the prosecution judged that it is necessary to conduct questioning to reveal the substantive truth even if the witness expresses an intention to refuse to answer."

Nevertheless, Professor Jeong repeatedly answered "I will not testify" to the prosecutor's questions. Under the Criminal Procedure Act, a witness has the right to refuse to testify about matters that may result in punishment for themselves or their relatives.

Earlier, former Minister Cho also appeared at the trial of his spouse, Professor Jeong, and refused to testify by answering "I will follow Article 148 of the Criminal Procedure Act" to over 300 questions from the prosecution. Article 148 is the provision of the Criminal Procedure Act that specifies the right to refuse to testify.

After the witness examination of Professor Jeong ended, her son Jo also exercised his right to refuse to testify and rejected all questions from the prosecution. Jo mentioned the reason for refusal, saying, "I was investigated as a reference by the prosecution regarding this case, and later the prosecution notified me of the rights of a suspect. Depending on the trial content, I may be summoned again, indicted, or my testimony may affect my mother’s trial."

Regarding this, the prosecution argued, "It is difficult to accept that he reverses what he said to the prosecution and remains silent," while Representative Choi’s defense lawyer countered, "For the efficiency of the trial and the guarantee of the right to refuse to testify, it is desirable not to ask."

Meanwhile, Representative Choi was handed over to trial on charges of obstructing university admission screening by issuing a false internship certificate for Jo, at the request of Professor Jeong, wife of former Minister Cho, around October 2017, when he was working as a lawyer at the law firm Cheongmaek. The next trial of Representative Choi is scheduled for 4 p.m. on November 17.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.