If a Non-Prosecution Decision Is Deemed 'Inappropriate,' Reinvestigation Order or Direct Investigation May Be Possible
Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul (left), Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, and Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] As an appeal against the non-prosecution decision by the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office regarding allegations of 'failure to return from leave' involving Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's son, Seo, has been filed, the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office has begun reviewing the appropriateness of the non-prosecution decision concerning Minister Choo and others.
Recently, Minister Choo raised concerns about the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office indicting Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jin-ung of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office on charges of official violence against Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon during the investigation of the 'Channel A coercion attempt' case, and instructed the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Department to re-examine the indictment process. Consequently, the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office is now reviewing whether the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office's non-prosecution decision regarding Minister Choo, her son, and a former aide was appropriate.
According to the legal community on the 13th, the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, which received the appeal, sent the investigation records related to Minister Choo's son's allegations to the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office that afternoon.
Earlier, in September, the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, through a press release on the investigation results, disclosed KakaoTalk conversations between Minister Choo and her then aide regarding her son's leave issue. However, they ultimately cleared Minister Choo, Seo, former aide A, and unit regional commander B of any wrongdoing concerning the special leave allegations for Seo.
In response, the People Power Party submitted an appeal to the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office at the end of last month, requesting a reinvestigation of the case.
The Seoul High Prosecutors' Office will review the appropriateness of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office's non-prosecution decision based on the investigation records received that day.
If the review finds the investigation was inadequate or that there are issues with the non-prosecution decision based on the evidence, the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office may order the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office to reinvestigate or, depending on the circumstances, may take direct action itself.
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