Seoul High Prosecutors' Office Dismisses MinEonRyeon's Appeal in 'Channel A Case'... Han Dong-hoon Cleared of Charges

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution has once again ruled no charges in the alleged collusion between prosecution and media involving Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, linked to the so-called 'Channel A incident.'

On the 22nd, the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office announced that it dismissed the appeal case regarding the attempted coercion charge against Minister Han on the 20th. It concluded that there was no problem with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's decision to dismiss the charges against Minister Han due to insufficient evidence.

Earlier, in April 2020, the civic group Minju Media Citizens' Coalition filed a complaint against Minister Han and former Channel A reporter Lee Dong-jae, alleging collusion based on MBC's report on 'prosecution-media collusion.' The report claimed that Lee, leveraging his acquaintance with Minister Han, coerced the side of former Value Invest Korea CEO Lee Cheol to provide tips on allegations involving former Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Chairman Yoo Si-min and other figures from the ruling party. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office dismissed the charges against Minister Han on April 6, two years after the complaint. Former reporter Lee was also acquitted in the first trial, and the appeal trial is ongoing.

In response, on the 20th of the same month, Minju Media Citizens' Coalition appealed, stating that "the prosecution's decision is unfair as they delayed the iPhone forensic examination of Minister Han for 22 months without providing a clear reason for the forensic failure, leaving suspicions unresolved." They requested a retrial from the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, opposing the non-prosecution decision by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. Although the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office could have ordered a reinvestigation by the original prosecution office or conducted a direct reinvestigation if it accepted the appeal, it ultimately did not take such action.

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