Trial of Jeong Jin-ung on 'Abuse of Authority' Charges... Han Dong-hoon to Testify Today "Expected to Testify on Circumstances Before and After Physical Altercation"

Chief Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon (left) and Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jin-woong of Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] In the trial of Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jin-ung of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, who is accused of assaulting Chief Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon during a search and seizure operation, Chief Prosecutor Han is expected to testify as a witness about the circumstances before and after the physical altercation.

According to the court on the 21st, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 22 (Presiding Judge Yang Cheol-han) will hold the fifth hearing for Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong at 10 a.m. that day. The witness examination of Chief Prosecutor Han is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong is accused of assaulting Chief Prosecutor Han during the seizure of Han’s mobile phone SIM card in July last year as part of the investigation into the 'collusion between prosecutors and media' allegations. The term 'assault by a public official' refers to a prosecutor or police officer abusing their authority during an investigation to arrest or assault a suspect or commit acts of cruelty.

In response, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong’s side has claimed innocence, arguing that the actions were intended to prevent Chief Prosecutor Han from attempting to destroy evidence and that no assault occurred.

In a previous hearing, video footage showing the circumstances before and after the incident was played. In the video recorded immediately after the incident, Chief Prosecutor Han shouted, "(You) didn’t show (the phone)!" to which Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong replied, "I asked to check it, but it wasn’t given. What if (someone) opens it and tampers with it?" Additionally, when Chief Prosecutor Han claimed, "Didn’t you say you were going to call your lawyer? To make a call, you have to unlock (the screen with your hand)," Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong responded, "Don’t you usually use Face ID (facial recognition lock)?"

However, Prosecutor Jang, who was present at the scene, testified during a previous hearing in response to the prosecutor’s question about whether there was any suspicious behavior from Chief Prosecutor Han that could not be seen as normal conduct at the time of the incident, stating, "I did not think (Chief Prosecutor Han’s attempt to use the phone) was unusual."

Meanwhile, the hearing on this day is also expected to include the witness examination of the doctor who examined Chief Prosecutor Han at the time.

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