Prosecutors' Office Indicts Son Jun-sung on 'Report Solicitation' Allegations... Lawyer Says "He Voluntarily Claimed Amateur Status"

Hand Inspection Lawyer: "The Corruption Investigation Office has expressed its intention to walk the path of 'political prosecutors'"

Yeowoon-guk Deputy Chief of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (PCC) is conducting a briefing on the investigation results of the allegations of solicitation for prosecution at the PCC briefing room on the 4th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HOCI), which has been investigating the 'accusation inducement' suspicion case, concluded its investigation on the 4th by referring Prosecutor Son Joon-sung (Daegu High Prosecutors' Office Human Rights Protection Officer) to trial on charges including violation of the Public Official Election Act.

On the 4th, HOCI indicted Prosecutor Son without detention on four charges: violation of the Public Official Election Act, official secret leakage, violation of the Personal Information Protection Act, and violation of the Criminal Procedure Electronicization Act. The abuse of authority charge against Prosecutor Son was dismissed.

Additionally, HOCI dismissed the abuse of authority and official secret leakage charges against Assemblyman Kim, and transferred the remaining charges, including the Public Official Election Act violation in collusion with Prosecutor Son, which were not subject to HOCI's prosecution or investigation, to the prosecution.

Furthermore, three prosecutors who were booked along with President-elect Yoon Seok-youl, Minister of Justice nominee Han Dong-hoon, People Power Party Assemblyman Jeong Jeom-sik, and Prosecutor Son were cleared of charges. Regarding President-elect Yoon's wife, Kim Geon-hee, the abuse of authority charge was dismissed, and other crimes were transferred to the prosecution.

HOCI judged that Prosecutor Son sent accusation letters and documents such as rulings concerning pro-democracy camp figures, including Choi Kang-wook and Hwang Hee-seok, who ran in the April 15, 2020 general election, twice on April 3 and 8, 2020, to Assemblyman Kim to negatively influence the election, constituting a violation of the Public Official Election Act. Assemblyman Kim, who delivered the accusation letters and materials received from Prosecutor Son to the United Future Party, was charged with conspiracy to violate the Public Official Election Act along with Prosecutor Son.

HOCI also viewed Prosecutor Son's transmission of accusation letters containing investigation information related to criminal charges to Assemblyman Kim as official secret leakage. Furthermore, the act of instructing officials from the Investigation Information Policy Office to view and collect real-name rulings about whistleblower Ji Mo in the 'media-prosecution collusion' suspicion and sending them to Assemblyman Kim was deemed a violation of the Personal Information Protection Act and the Criminal Procedure Electronicization Act.

Regarding the reason for not applying abuse of authority charges to the two individuals, HOCI explained, "There is insufficient evidence that officials from the Investigation Information Policy Office prepared the first and second accusation letters under Prosecutor Son's instructions, and although it is acknowledged that the defendant instructed officials from the Investigation Information Policy Office to view and collect rulings, this does not constitute compelling them to perform acts without legal obligation under the legal theory of abuse of authority. The results of the prosecution review committee's deliberation were also considered." It added, "Since the abuse of authority charge against Prosecutor Son was dismissed, all abuse of authority and related charges against other suspects were also dismissed."

In response, Prosecutor Son's lawyer issued a statement saying, "Despite the prosecution review committee's recommendation for non-prosecution, it appears that prosecution was forced contrary to legal principles and evidence, deviating from past precedents," and added, "The case was forcibly handled solely based on political considerations ahead of the new government's inauguration."

The lawyer continued, "Regarding the repeated inhumane investigative behavior shown by HOCI during the search and warrant application processes, strong regret must be expressed in this case decision process, and we request that HOCI uphold its duty of political neutrality as claimed," adding, "HOCI has not only voluntarily admitted to being amateurs but now appears to have declared its intention to become so-called 'political prosecutors.' We express deep regret once again and urge HOCI to return to its original path even at this stage."

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