Citizen Group Files Complaint Against Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol for "Reckless Use of Special Activity Expenses"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] A civic group has accused Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol of allegedly using the prosecution's special activity funds for personal expenses and has filed a complaint against him with the prosecution.

The Citizens' Action for Judicial Justice (Sasaehaeng) held a press conference on the afternoon of the 12th in front of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, announcing that they would file a complaint against Prosecutor General Yoon with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on charges of breach of trust, embezzlement, and loss of state funds.

Sasaehaeng stated, "It appears that Prosecutor General Yoon has recklessly used the prosecution's special activity funds as if they were his personal expenses," adding, "It is suspected that he distributed the funds arbitrarily to frontline prosecution offices or departments without any fixed criteria based on personal relationships or loyalty, using the money to manage the organization and maintain loyalty."

Sasaehaeng also said, "There is no supporting documentation for the detailed expenditures of the prosecution's special activity funds, and only Prosecutor General Yoon knows the details of the expenditures, which puts external supervisory bodies such as the Ministry of Justice in a position where they cannot manage or supervise," adding, "This constitutes breach of trust and embezzlement, as well as the crime of loss of state funds."

They further added, "We are also filing a complaint against Bok Doo-gyu, Director of the General Affairs Bureau of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, as an accomplice for being involved in the overall execution of the prosecution budget, including the special activity funds."

On the 5th, at the plenary session of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae raised suspicions that "(Prosecutor General Yoon) uses the Supreme Prosecutors' Office special activity funds like pocket money," and ordered the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Department to investigate and report on the execution of the Prosecutor General's special activity funds.

Minister Choo targeted Prosecutor General Yoon, stating, "The Supreme Prosecutors' Office received 9.4 billion won in special activity funds this year in a lump sum and is executing it arbitrarily," and raised suspicions that "the special activity funds are being used like pocket money." Subsequently, the Ministry of Justice instructed the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Department to promptly investigate and report on the Prosecutor General's use of the special activity funds. Additionally, on the 9th, ruling and opposition members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee visited the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to conduct an on-site inspection of the Ministry of Justice and prosecution's use of special activity funds.

Meanwhile, Minister Choo was also reported to the prosecution on the 10th on charges of loss of state funds. The Action Alliance for the Restoration of the Rule of Law (Beopse-ryeon) filed a complaint against Minister Choo and Shim Jae-cheol, Director of the Prosecution Bureau at the Ministry of Justice, with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, stating, "It is clearly embezzlement that the Ministry of Justice arbitrarily diverted about 1 billion won from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office special activity funds to cover operational expenses unrelated to confidential information and investigations, such as the Correction Headquarters," and added, "Minister Choo is the final approver of the Ministry of Justice budget execution by law, and Director Shim oversees the prosecution budget, so ultimately Minister Choo and Director Shim conspired to commit the crime of loss of state funds."

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