Prosecutorial Investigation Deliberation Committee: "Stop Investigating Lee Seong-yoon and Send Him to Trial" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The Prosecution Investigation Deliberation Committee has recommended halting the investigation and prosecuting Lee Seong-yoon, the Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, who has been under investigation for the illegal travel ban case involving former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui.

The Prosecution Investigation Deliberation Committee held a meeting at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 10th and announced that it passed the recommendation with a majority vote. The meeting was attended by Chairman Yang Chang-soo, former Supreme Court Justice, and 13 of the 15 pre-selected external experts. Two members were reported to be absent due to unavoidable reasons. The committee aims for unanimous conclusions but decides by majority vote if opinions differ.

The agenda referred to the committee was whether to continue the investigation and prosecute Lee for abuse of authority and obstruction of rights. Among the 13 members, 8 believed the investigation should be stopped, exceeding half. Regarding prosecution, 8 out of 15 members agreed it was necessary. The committee's recommendation is interpreted as meaning that Lee should be prosecuted without further investigation. However, the committee's recommendations on prosecution or investigation are advisory and not binding on the prosecution.

The meeting, which started at 2 p.m., ended around 6 p.m. The investigation team emphasized during the meeting, based on investigation materials, that Lee, who was then the head of the Anti-Corruption and Violence Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, exerted external pressure to halt the investigation into former Deputy Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui's illegal travel ban allegations. In contrast, Lee denied exerting undue pressure and accused the prosecution of conducting a 'targeted investigation.'

Lee took a half-day off that afternoon to attend the committee meeting in person but ultimately failed to persuade the committee members. Especially as the committee members overwhelmingly supported the investigation team's prosecution opinion, Lee now faces the risk of prosecution. Furthermore, with the recommendation for prosecution, it is anticipated that Lee's retention as Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and promotion to High Prosecutor will become difficult in the upcoming prosecution personnel reshuffle.

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