The Corruption Investigation Office Transfers to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office the Case of Choi Jae-hyung's 'Abuse of Authority' Accusation

On the afternoon of the 5th, Choi Jae-hyung, a former chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection and a presidential candidate of the People Power Party, paid respects at the National 3·15 Democracy Cemetery in Masanhwoeun-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam, and responded to questions from the press. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (PCC) has transferred the case involving former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, who was accused by the Citizens' Action for Judicial Justice (Sasaehaeng), to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

According to Sasaehaeng on the 6th, the PCC referred the case of former Chairman Choi, who was accused on the 28th of last month of conducting a targeted audit regarding the special recruitment allegations against Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon (charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of rights), to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

Earlier, Sasaehaeng filed a complaint with the PCC on June 28, stating that former Chairman Choi conducted an excessively strict audit concerning the special recruitment allegations of dismissed teachers from the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) under Superintendent Cho. The Board of Audit and Inspection had also faced suspicions of exempting 10 former employees from written exams in the past, but only Superintendent Cho's case underwent an excessive audit.

On the day, Sasaehaeng criticized, "If the PCC avoids investigating former Chairman Choi, a leading opposition presidential candidate, due to political burdens, it would be a direct contradiction to the founding purpose of the PCC, which is to investigate high-ranking officials' crimes strictly and without exception."

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