Jeong Hee-do, Head of Criminal Division 1 at Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office, "Active clarification needed... Consider handing over investigation rights to special prosecutors"
The Supreme Prosecutors' Office decided not to convene the advisory panel for the investigation into the alleged collusion between prosecutors and the media, which was scheduled for the 3rd. This partially reflects the opinion of Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, who exercised her investigative command authority on the 2nd. Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol plans to hold consecutive meetings with the heads of high prosecutors' offices and chief prosecutors nationwide on the morning and afternoon of the 3rd to discuss whether to accept Minister Choo's exercise of investigative command authority. The photo shows the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on that day. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] A current chief prosecutor has raised criticism that the investigation team probing the 'media-prosecutor collusion' allegations is conducting an unfair and biased investigation.
According to the legal community on the 7th, Jeong Hee-do (54, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 31), head of the Criminal Division 1 at Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office, posted on the prosecution's internal communication network 'Epros' that "Many frontline prosecutors, including myself, view the current investigation team as conducting an unfair and biased investigation," and urged, "If this is not true, actively clarify it; if clarification is difficult, hand over the investigative authority to a special prosecutor."
Chief Jeong pointed out, "This case also raises suspicions of 'media-prosecutor collusion,' and judging by the progress of the case, it seems highly plausible. Nevertheless, the current investigation team has not proceeded with any investigation related to this after the initial rejection of the search warrant for MBC," he said.
He continued, "The investigation team is even suspected of 'devil's editing' by submitting a transcript that excludes all parts favorable to Chief Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon when obtaining approval for the search warrant request at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office chief meeting," adding, "If true, this seriously violates the prosecutor's duty of objectivity and is itself a matter for disciplinary action."
He also expressed concerns about Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's exercise of investigative directive authority. Chief Jeong stated, "With the exercise of the investigative directive, the prosecution is at risk of becoming 'a servant of the regime,'" and claimed, "I suspect the investigation team is playing a role in the planned scenario as part of the 'drive to oust the Prosecutor General.'"
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