Prosecutors Investigate Lee Yong-gu 'Favoritism Allegations' at Seocho Police Station Criminal Team Chief

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The prosecution has investigated a police officer suspected of showing leniency in the case of Vice Minister of Justice Lee Yong-gu's assault on a taxi driver.

On the 31st, the Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Dong-eon) summoned Sergeant A from the Seocho Police Station as a suspect for investigation.

Sergeant A is the team leader of the criminal investigation team to which Sergeant B, the investigator in charge of Vice Minister Lee's case, belonged. The prosecution is reportedly investigating whether Sergeant A knew that Vice Minister Lee was a prominent figure mentioned as a candidate for the head of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (Hugo), and whether there was any external pressure on the investigation team.

Meanwhile, Vice Minister Lee is accused of assaulting a taxi driver by grabbing his collar after arriving home drunk on November 6 last year. The police closed the case without booking Vice Minister Lee, citing the victim's wish not to press charges. However, suspicions have arisen that the police conducted a lenient investigation by applying the assault charge under the Criminal Act, which requires the victim's consent, instead of applying the aggravated assault charge under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, including assault on a driver.

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