Son Junsung's Side "Search and Seizure Procedure Illegal"... Corruption Investigation Office "Lawful Execution"

Son Junsung, Human Rights Protection Officer at Daegu High Prosecutors' Office, a key figure in the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's 'Solicitation of Complaints' scandal during former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's tenure / Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Son Junsung, the Human Rights Protection Officer at Daegu High Prosecutors' Office and a key figure in the 'accusation manipulation' scandal, claimed that the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (HOCI) violated the Criminal Procedure Act by breaching the 'prior notification obligation' during their search and seizure process.

On the 16th, Son's legal team stated regarding the previous day's search and seizure at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Investigation Information Division by HOCI, "Although the search and seizure began before 1:42 PM, the defense counsel was only asked around 3:30 PM whether to attend the forensic examination."

According to Son's legal team, when the defense counsel arrived at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office around 5 PM, HOCI officials had already secured the storage device of the PC used by Son. When the defense raised objections, they were told, "These are materials taken from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's custody, and the warrant has not yet been executed." They also claimed, "There is suspicion that HOCI knew in advance about the materials secured by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office under the pretext of inspection and seized them through the search warrant."

On the other hand, HOCI responded to Son's claims by stating, "The search and seizure were lawfully conducted in accordance with the procedures stipulated by relevant laws." HOCI explained, "After arriving at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, the investigation team spent considerable time discussing with the office officials the classification of the seizure targets specified in the warrant and the methods and procedures for forensic examination," "and immediately after confirming that the seizure targets were stored in the Investigation Information Division, they proceeded with the notification process to other case-related persons, including Son, about attending the forensic examination."

HOCI added, "The forensic examination of the seized items only began after Son's defense counsel, who had been contacted, arrived," and stated, "We regret the defense counsel's attitude of claiming illegality despite the lawful execution of the warrant and baselessly alleging that the investigation, including search and seizure, was conducted in collusion with the prosecution."

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