Prosecutor General Yoon's Mother-in-Law's Side "Procedural Unfairness... Deep Regret"

Prosecution Indicts Without Detention for Violations of Medical Law... President and Spouse Not Indicted

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Choi, the mother-in-law of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who is suspected of being involved in the operation of an illegal nursing hospital, has expressed regret over the prosecution's indictment policy. She claims that aside from some politicians' complaints, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's reinvestigation found no new evidence and no circumstances that would overturn past investigations and confirmed rulings.

On the 24th, the Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Park Soon-bae) indicted Choi without detention on charges of violating the Medical Service Act and fraud under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. The prosecution viewed that Choi, in collusion with business partners, established a medical foundation in November 2012 despite lacking qualifications to open a medical institution, and was involved in the establishment and operation of a nursing hospital located in Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province in February 2013, embezzling nursing care benefits worth approximately 2.29 billion won from May 2013 to May 2015.

However, Choi's defense attorney immediately rebutted the reason why those who lent funds to the medical corporation were not even booked as suspects. They argued that during the search and seizure at the time, it was clearly revealed that business partners Joo and Koo had drafted a profit-sharing agreement to split profits 50-50, and that Choi, along with co-chairpersons, directors, and auditors, did not participate in management activities, and that neither the founding general meeting nor the board of directors meetings were actually held.

They also expressed dissatisfaction with the prosecution's sudden announcement of the indictment. They stated that the prosecution deserves criticism for procedural unfairness by not properly granting the accused and their attorneys an opportunity to present their opinions despite their full cooperation with the procedures. The defense explained, "We never refused the prosecution's requests for document submission and voluntarily submitted materials four times," adding, "We indicated our intention to organize opinions on the investigation results and newly revealed evidence records by the 25th at the latest, and the prosecution also agreed."

Meanwhile, the prosecution decided not to indict regarding the fraud-related complaint against Choi and the complaint against Prosecutor General Yoon's spouse for forgery of private documents. They also dismissed the complaint against Prosecutor General Yoon, who was jointly accused of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights. Earlier in February, a businessman filed a complaint accusing Prosecutor General Yoon of abuse of authority, alleging his involvement in Choi's case.

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