[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] The Prosecutorial Investigation Deliberation Committee (Investigation Deliberation Committee) has recommended the prosecution team to indict the former chief prosecutor who verbally abused and physically assaulted the late Prosecutor Kim Hong-young on charges of assault. The bereaved family expressed their hope that the truth will be revealed through a thorough investigation.
On the 16th, the Investigation Deliberation Committee held a current affairs meeting and announced the results of the deliberation with this content.
The committee recommended prosecution on assault charges with a majority vote, while deciding not to prosecute on charges of coercion and insult. However, regarding the insult charges, the committee agreed that the alleged facts could fall under defamation or assault, and that it is necessary to review whether the charges are valid.
The meeting was attended by Chairman Yang Chang-soo, a former Supreme Court Justice, and 14 current affairs committee members. Initially, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office selected 15 members by lottery from about 200 experts from various sectors of society, but one member was absent. Agenda items are decided by a majority vote of the attending members.
The main agenda was whether to indict the suspect, former Chief Prosecutor Kim Dae-hyun. The agenda also included whether charges such as coercion, insult, and defamation could be applied in addition to assault.
After the announcement by the Investigation Deliberation Committee, the family of Prosecutor Kim said, "We thank the members of the Investigation Deliberation Committee for their decision," and added, "Since citizens have empowered this wise decision, we request that the substantial truth be revealed through a strict investigation."
The recommendation for prosecution by the Investigation Deliberation Committee is expected to give momentum to the investigation. As the committee also recommended the investigation team to review defamation charges, the scope of the investigation may expand further.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor Kim, who was working in the Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, left a will expressing work stress and job pressure in May 2016 and made an extreme choice at the age of thirty-three.
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