Yoo Si-min: "If the prosecution doubted me for something that never happened, they should scold me"

Yoo Si-min, Chairman of the People Living Together Foundation of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation / Photo by Asia Economy DB

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] The conflict between Yoo Si-min, chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation (Roh Foundation), who raised suspicions that the prosecution surveilled the foundation's bank accounts, and the prosecution is deepening. Earlier, the prosecution sent an official letter to the Roh Foundation claiming that "it was not confirmed whether the account inquiry took place," but Chairman Yoo refuted this, calling it "wordplay."

In an interview with 'Sisa Journal' on the 4th, Chairman Yoo stated, "'Not confirmed' and 'there is no such fact' have a big difference," adding, "I don't understand why it is so difficult for the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to verify with Kookmin Bank whether the Roh Foundation's account was accessed. If they suspect and criticize something that did not happen and feel wronged, they should verify the facts and reprimand me."

According to the media report, on June 23, the Roh Foundation sent a complaint to the prosecution titled 'Re-request for confirmation of provision of financial transaction information and notification delay,' demanding verification of whether the prosecution surveilled the foundation's accounts. Subsequently, on the 6th of last month, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office responded that no account inquiry regarding the Roh Foundation was confirmed at any prosecution office nationwide.

Chairman Yoo pointed out, "The Supreme Prosecutors' Office is the organization that commands the entire prosecution, so regardless of which district prosecutor's office or agency made the inquiry, the information would have arrived at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office," adding, "Our main bank is Kookmin Bank Seogang Branch, and all documents are stored there. If they feel wronged, they can check with the bank, but they only replied that it was not confirmed."

Regarding the suspicion that the prosecution requested the bank to delay notifying the account holder after accessing the Roh Foundation's accounts, known as a 'notification delay request,' he emphasized, "The answer from Kookmin Bank to us has consistently been that they cannot disclose whether financial information was provided since December last year," adding, "That means a notification delay was requested."

However, Chairman Yoo said he would naturally apologize to the prosecution if it turns out that the prosecution did not access the accounts, lamenting, "I keep raising questions because they do not provide a satisfactory answer."

Chairman Yoo appeared on the YouTube show 'Alileo' last December and claimed that the prosecution might have looked into the account of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation. / Photo by YouTube broadcast capture

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Earlier, in December last year, Chairman Yoo raised suspicions of the prosecution surveilling the Roh Foundation's accounts on his YouTube channel 'Alileo.' At that time, he claimed, "It is presumed to be the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, but I learned that the prosecution looked into the Roh Foundation's accounts," and added, "There is a strong possibility that the prosecution also looked into my spouse's accounts."

At that time, the prosecution immediately issued a statement refuting Chairman Yoo's claims. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office stated, "The prosecution has not conducted any account tracking related to crimes involving the Roh Foundation, Yoo Si-min, or their family," and urged, "Please stop baseless malicious false claims against law enforcement agencies."

However, Chairman Yoo continued to raise suspicions about the prosecution surveilling the Roh Foundation's accounts.

On the 24th of last month, he appeared on MBC Radio and said, "Around late November to early December last year, it was judged highly likely that the (Supreme Prosecutors' Office) Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division, where Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon was, looked into the Roh Foundation's accounts."

Chairman Yoo also claimed that the prosecution might have requested a notification delay after accessing the Roh Foundation's accounts.

He explained, "Our main bank says they cannot disclose anything. Even after six months, they still cannot disclose," adding, "Normally, when the prosecution views an account, they must notify within ten days, but the only case where notification is not given is when a notification delay request is filed."

He continued, "We unofficially received answers from state agencies with the authority that such an event did not occur, but only the prosecution did not respond," adding, "They have extended the notification delay request for three months now, and the prosecution will extend it for another three months."

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