Court Dismisses Junseong Son Prosecutor's Appeal Against Corruption Investigation Office's Illegal Search and Seizure

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Son Jun-seong, head of the Litigation Department at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, who was indicted on suspicion of 'report manipulation,' filed an objection with the court claiming that the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HOCIU)'s seizure of evidence was illegal, but it was not accepted.

According to the legal community on the 14th, Judge Cho Jang-hwan of the Criminal Division 31 at the Seoul Central District Court dismissed Son's petition to cancel the seizure and search on the grounds that it was illegal.

Regarding the 'report manipulation' suspicion, HOCIU conducted a search and seizure at Prosecutor Son's residence and office on September 10 of last year. Subsequently, in November of last year, the Inspection Department, Investigation Information Office, and Information and Communications Division of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office were also searched and seized.

In November of last year, Son raised an objection, stating, "The search and seizure executed by HOCIU on emails, messenger records, and Criminal Justice Information System search records did not follow the notification procedure for the suspect's participation, and was carried out completely excluding the participation rights of the suspect or the defense counsel."

It is known that Son's side filed the petition for review against the search and seizure targeting Son as a suspect, except for the one on September 10.

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