Prosecutors to Directly Investigate the Case of Lee Yong-gu's 'Taxi Driver Assault' Complaint

Lee Yong-gu, Deputy Minister of Justice, is entering the subcommittee meeting room of the National Assembly's Judiciary Committee on the 29th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] Lee Yong-gu, Vice Minister of Justice, is under direct investigation by the prosecution over allegations that he assaulted a taxi driver but was not punished.

According to the legal community on the 29th, the Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Dong-eon Lee) plans to summon the representatives of two organizations, the Action Alliance for Establishing the Rule of Law (Beopse-ryeon) and the Judicial Exam Preparation Group (Sajunmo), who filed complaints against Vice Minister Lee on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, on the 30th for complainant investigations.

The prosecution's decision to directly investigate this case came amid criticism that the police initially did not handle the case appropriately. It also appears to consider the fact that the accused is a high-ranking public official, the Vice Minister.

The organizations that filed complaints against Vice Minister Lee are demanding a thorough investigation, citing suspicious circumstances surrounding the police's closure of the internal investigation into Lee. Beopse-ryeon has requested the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to investigate the responsible investigation team for dereliction of duty and abuse of authority. Sajunmo is also reported to have submitted a request for an audit to the Police Agency's Inspection and Audit Office, asking for an investigation into the case.

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