Investigation of 'Tongsinjohoe' Public Officials Corruption Investigation Office Chief's Accusation Case at Anyang District Prosecutors' Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HCIC) has been assigned to the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Anyang Branch over allegations that it illegally surveilled politicians and journalists.

According to the legal community on the 29th, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office transferred the case in which the civic group Action Alliance for the Rule of Law (Beopse-ryeon) filed a complaint against HCIC Chief Kim Jin-wook on the 23rd to the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Anyang Branch.

Beopse-ryeon stated, "Although the HCIC was not the subject of investigation, it unlawfully exceeded and abused its discretion by checking a journalist's call records through a communication warrant simply because the journalist had a phone call with a suspect," and filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office against Chief Kim and unidentified HCIC investigation officials on charges including abuse of authority and falsification of official documents.

Lee Jong-bae, representative of Beopse-ryeon, expressed the position that "the HCIC's acquisition of call records of a TV Chosun journalist to conduct communication inquiries on acquaintances constitutes illegal surveillance." Previously, it was revealed that the HCIC had accessed communication data related to the mother of a TV Chosun journalist who reported on the "Emperor-style summons investigation of Prosecutor General Lee Seong-yoon."

Meanwhile, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office had previously sent a case to the Anyang Branch in which the People Power Party's Legal Support Group accused Chief Kim and others of illegally surveilling opposition politicians. Going forward, the Anyang Branch plans to review the purpose of the complaint and proceed with investigations of the complainants and the accused.

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