Kim Cheol-geun "Ethics Committee Disciplinary Action Clearly Violates Procedures... Invalid"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Kim Cheol-geun, the Chief of Staff to the People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok, who was notified by the Central Ethics Committee of the commencement of disciplinary procedures over allegations of 'sexual bribery and evidence destruction inducement,' claimed on the 23rd that "a statement made as a witness was used directly in the Ethics Committee's investigation. This is a clear procedural violation," asserting that the decision is invalid.

Kim posted on his Facebook that "According to the party regulations on the Ethics Committee, the Ethics Committee can only refer disciplinary matters after going through the Party Affairs Audit Committee procedures, and only after the disciplinary matter is referred can the disciplinary procedure begin," explaining the situation.

He pointed out, "However, since the Party Affairs Audit Committee did not conduct any investigation, the Ethics Committee should have entrusted the investigation to the Party Affairs Audit Committee and was not in a position to directly refer disciplinary matters. Nevertheless, the Ethics Committee summoned me as a witness in the disciplinary procedure against the party leader, immediately treated my statement as an investigation against me, and initiated disciplinary procedures without the referral process of disciplinary matters against me."

Kim continued, "The Ethics Committee only requested my appearance as a witness, so they did not notify me of any disciplinary referral, and I only testified as a witness without being given an opportunity to explain, yet the disciplinary procedure was conducted, which is also a procedural violation," adding, "This is invalid due to violation of the party regulations on the Ethics Committee."

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