Prosecutors Launch Investigation into Choo Mi-ae over Alleged Violation of Political Funds Act

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] The prosecution has launched an investigation into Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae, who has been accused of violating the Political Funds Act and other charges.

According to the legal community on the 29th, the Public Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kwon Sang-dae) has been assigned the case filed by the group Haengdonghaneun Jayu Simin (Acting Free Citizens) against Minister Chu and has begun reviewing it.

Previously, Haengdonghaneun Jayu Simin filed a complaint stating, "Minister Chu is suspected of improperly using political funds under the pretext of a lawmaker meeting, such as spending at her eldest daughter's restaurant or holding a lawmaker meeting in Paju while using political funds in Nonsan." They claimed, "From November 2014 to August 2015, Minister Chu used about 2.5 million won at a restaurant owned by her eldest daughter 21 times," and "She held press meetings five times even on Sundays, which is unreasonable."

The opposition party also raised suspicions of improper use of political funds, alleging that Minister Chu spent political funds at a restaurant run by her daughter under the pretext of press meetings, and that on January 3, 2017, the day she visited the 1st Artillery Brigade in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, the political fund card was used in Nonsan, Chungnam.

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