[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The request to convene the Prosecutorial Investigation Deliberation Committee by the defense of former Channel A reporter Lee Dong-jae, the key suspect in the so-called 'media-prosecution collusion' case, was not accepted.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Citizens' Committee announced on the morning of the 13th that the Subcommittee on Referral decided not to refer the case to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Investigation Deliberation Committee after discussion.
A prosecution official stated, "Since a referral decision has already been made for the same case and the Investigation Deliberation Committee is scheduled to be convened, and because the procedure guarantees the suspect's opportunity to present their opinion," as reasons for the decision.
The Subcommittee on Referral reached this conclusion after reviewing opinion statements of up to 30 pages in A4 format submitted separately by the investigation team, Criminal Division 1 (Chief Prosecutor Jung Jin-ung), and the applicant, former reporter Lee.
Although the specific schedule has not been finalized, the Investigation Deliberation Committee requested by former Value Invest Korea (VIK) CEO Lee Cheol, who claims to be a victim of threats in the 'media-prosecution collusion' case, has already been approved for convening. The committee is expected to be held within this month.
The former CEO's side submitted the request to convene the Investigation Deliberation Committee to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on the 25th of last month. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office held the Subcommittee on Referral on the 29th of the same month and decided to convene the Investigation Deliberation Committee.
In response, former reporter Lee's side applied to convene the Investigation Deliberation Committee on the 8th as a 'countermeasure.'
Initially, former reporter Lee's side submitted a petition requesting the convening of a Professional Investigation Advisory Group. Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol unusually accepted this in the form of a petition and decided to convene it, but after controversy including Minister Chu's exercise of investigative control, it was withdrawn.
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