[Breaking] Prosecutorial Investigation Deliberation Committee Recommends Indictment for Pastor Choi Jaeyoung on Improper Solicitation Act Violation... 8 to 7 Vote

On the 24th, when the Prosecution Investigation Deliberation Committee was held, Pastor Choi Jaeyoung is speaking at a related press conference in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Prosecution Review Committee deliberated on whether to indict Pastor Choi Jaeyoung, who gifted luxury bags and other items to First Lady Kim Geonhee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, and on the 24th resolved to recommend prosecution for Pastor Choi's violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. For the other charges against Pastor Choi, the committee resolved to recommend non-prosecution.

The committee held a special session from 2 p.m. that day and deliberated for over eight hours before reaching this conclusion.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "The Prosecution Review Committee comprehensively reviewed the opinions of the investigation team and the suspect and defense counsel, and for suspect Choi Jaeyoung's violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, the vote was 8 for 'prosecution' and 7 for 'non-prosecution,' resulting in a recommendation for prosecution. For suspect Choi's defamation charge, the vote was 14 for 'non-prosecution' and 1 for 'prosecution,' resulting in a recommendation for non-prosecution. For suspect Choi's charges of trespassing and obstruction of official duties by deception, the committee unanimously resolved to recommend non-prosecution."

During the special session of the Prosecution Review Committee that day, the prosecution and Pastor Choi presented their opinions on whether the investigation should continue and whether to prosecute or not regarding the charges of violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, defamation, trespassing, and obstruction of official duties by deception.

After the deliberation and resolution of the special session, the committee prepares a review opinion report. Then, the staff in charge of the special session sends a copy of the review opinion report to the chief prosecutor, who must attach the copy to the case records.

Article 19 (Effect of Deliberation) of the Prosecution Review Committee Operating Guidelines states that "the chief prosecutor must respect the opinions of the special session." In other words, regardless of the conclusion reached by the Prosecution Review Committee, it is not binding on prosecutors and serves only as a recommendation.

In fact, among the 16 Prosecution Review Committee meetings held so far, 13 results have been made public, and in 8 of those 13 cases, the prosecution's disposition differed from the committee's opinion.

Previously, on the 6th, the Prosecution Review Committee held a special session regarding First Lady Kim and resolved to recommend non-prosecution for all charges, including violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act, and bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

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