Police Exclude Officer from Investigation Over Alleged Coercion of Secretary to Record 'Fake Fisheries Businessman'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has excluded a police officer suspected of coercing the secretary of Kim (43), who impersonated a fisheries businessman, to record conversations with Kim's lawyer from the investigation of the case.

On the 21st, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated, "The 'Investigation Review Officer Office' is currently verifying the facts regarding this matter, and to ensure the fairness of the investigation, the officer in question will be excluded from the case investigation until specific facts are confirmed." They added, "The ongoing case will proceed swiftly and strictly according to legal procedures with reinforced investigative personnel."

Earlier, a media outlet reported that after the police transferred Kim on charges including fraud amounting to around 10 billion won, they arrested and then released one of Kim's subordinates in April on charges including joint assault. During this process, Detective A from the investigation team reportedly demanded, "Meet Kim's lawyer and record what he says."

According to the report, this employee received promises of leniency from the police during 4 to 5 rounds of witness questioning related to Kim's case and eventually handed over the recorded phone conversation with Kim's lawyer Lee to the police.

The Violent Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency investigated Kim's fraud case until early April this year and transferred it. Near the conclusion of the investigation, Kim claimed to have given money and gifts to senior officials in the prosecution and police as well as journalists. Based on this statement, the police are currently investigating eight individuals suspected of receiving these bribes.

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