Jinwook Kim: "Transfer of Hakui Kim Case to Be Decided as Early as Tomorrow"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HCIC) is expected to decide as early as tomorrow whether to transfer the case involving Lee Seong-yoon, the Seoul Central District Prosecutor General, who is implicated in the controversy over the travel ban on former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui.

On the 10th, Kim Jin-wook, head of the HCIC, told reporters on his way to the Government Gwacheon Complex, "We will announce it within this week," adding, "It will be tomorrow or the day after."

Earlier, the Criminal Division 3 of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Jeong-seop) transferred the case involving Prosecutor General Lee and Lee Gyu-won, then a prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's fact-finding investigation team, related to the illegal travel ban on former Deputy Minister Kim, to the HCIC on the 3rd. The HCIC is known to have recently completed a review of the facts and legal issues after receiving the case records.

If the HCIC decides to investigate the case independently, the suspicion surrounding the travel ban on former Deputy Minister Kim is highly likely to become the HCIC's "first case."

There is also a possibility of transferring the case to the National Police Agency's Criminal Investigation Headquarters (NPA CIH). According to the investigation authority adjustment plan implemented since January, the prosecution can only investigate crimes committed by public officials of grade 4 or higher, but the police, including the NPA CIH, can investigate without restrictions.

Furthermore, if the case is transferred back to the prosecution, the investigation into Prosecutor General Lee and others is expected to accelerate. If the investigation team receives the case again, they may immediately proceed with compulsory investigation measures.

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