The Corruption Investigation Office holds prosecution review committee on 'alleged report-for-prosecution'... decision on indictment

Prosecutor Son Jun-sung (former Chief of Investigation Information Policy at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office), identified as a key figure in the allegation of report solicitation./Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

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[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HCICU) held a prosecution review committee meeting on the 19th to make a final decision on the 'alleged report solicitation' case.

The HCICU announced that from 2 p.m. that day, the prosecution review committee was in progress to determine whether to indict suspects involved in the alleged report solicitation, including Son Jun-sung, the Human Rights Protection Officer at Daegu High Prosecutors' Office.

The HCICU prosecution review committee consists of more than 10 members, including former Busan High Court Chief Judge Lee Kang-won (chairman), who deliberate on whether to file charges. Typically, the HCICU makes a final decision 5 to 10 days after the committee meeting, so the investigation is expected to conclude within this month.

The HCICU has been investigating this case for about seven months since September last year, focusing on Prosecutor Son as a key figure. Son is suspected of instructing prosecutors under his command in April 2020, while serving as the Investigation Information Policy Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, to draft complaints and gather information on pro-government figures, and delivering these to Kim Woong, a member of the People Power Party, thereby soliciting reports.

One week after related reports surfaced in September last year, the HCICU registered Prosecutor Son and then-Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, now President-elect, as suspects and began the investigation. Subsequently, they conducted raids on Prosecutor Son, prosecutors in the Investigation Information Policy Office at the time, Representative Kim, and People Power Party officials, and from October, they began summoning suspects and witnesses for thorough questioning. Kim Geon-hee, wife of President-elect Yoon, and Han Dong-hoon, nominee for Minister of Justice, were also registered as suspects.

Since December last year, the HCICU started investigating allegations regarding the creation of documents surveilling judges by President-elect Yoon and Protection Officer Son, but the investigation was postponed due to Prosecutor Son's health issues. Later, as the presidential election approached, the investigation into the alleged report solicitation was temporarily suspended.

The HCICU is likely to indict Prosecutor Son and Representative Kim without detention. However, it is widely expected that no separate measures will be taken against President-elect Yoon, Mrs. Kim, or nominee Han.

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