Submission of Evidence Such as 'Recorded Transcript and No Management Involvement' in Previous Day's Summons Investigation... "It Will Have to Be Acknowledged"
[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] Choi Mo, the mother-in-law of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who is suspected of being involved in the operation of an illegal nursing hospital, has submitted all rebuttal materials during the prosecution investigation. Although the case was dismissed without prosecution in 2015, a reinvestigation began last month after Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae exercised her authority to direct the investigation.
On the 13th, Choi's side told this outlet in a phone call, "We have submitted all prepared materials, including a recorded conversation containing the content that a partner wrote the letter of exemption from responsibility, materials stating that (Choi) was never involved in the hospital operation, and records from the time of the non-prosecution disposition." The day before, the Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Park Soon-bae) summoned Choi for questioning. In October 2012, Choi established a medical foundation with partner Gu Mo and set up a nursing hospital in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. However, the three partners were convicted of violating medical laws and fraud for illegally receiving 2.2 billion won in nursing care benefits, while Choi received a 'letter of exemption from responsibility' stating that she would not be held accountable for hospital operations and was dismissed without prosecution.
On the morning of the same day, Choi appeared at the prosecution with her lawyer and actively denied the forgery of the 'letter of exemption from responsibility,' which is the main issue in the prosecution's reinvestigation. Choi's side submitted a recorded conversation in which Gu admitted, "I wrote it myself." Although Gu testified during the prosecution investigation that he did not write the letter of exemption, the prosecution now faces another variable in proving the charges as Choi presented evidence to the contrary.
They also submitted materials containing statements from Ju Mo, who is known to have recommended Choi establish the medical foundation, saying "Choi was not involved in hospital operations," as well as materials from the time of the non-prosecution disposition. Choi's side stated, "Since there is all evidence including the recorded conversation, as well as the letter of exemption from responsibility with a certified seal, seal certificate, and notarization, it will inevitably be recognized." On the other hand, the prosecution confirmed that it secured registration documents from the local government where the nursing hospital was located and minutes from the foundation's board meetings to question Choi's involvement. They also inquired about the authenticity of the 'letter of exemption from responsibility,' which Gu claimed he did not write.
In the legal community, it is expected that controversy will continue regardless of the prosecution's outcome, given that the case, which was dismissed years ago, was reinvestigated under the direction of the minister. In fact, the reinvestigation began in April when Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, and others raised suspicions that Prosecutor General Yoon intervened in the prosecution's non-prosecution decision. The timing when Choi was dismissed without prosecution coincided with when Yoon was demoted after exposing pressure on the National Intelligence Service's investigation into election interference.
However, since the minister exercised her authority to direct the investigation, the investigation team is under significant pressure. The investigation team appears to be accelerating the investigation, as evidenced by summoning Yu Mo, another son-in-law of Choi who worked as the administrative director of the nursing hospital, for questioning just fifteen days after Minister Choo's directive, and then summoning the mother-in-law a week later. Meanwhile, the prosecution plans to decide on criminal charges based on the materials secured so far and the results of summoning related parties. It is also known that they are considering investigating additional related parties if necessary.
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