Im Eun-jeong Claims Job Exclusion in 'Han Myeong-suk Case'... Supreme Prosecutors' Office "No Assignment"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] Im Eun-jeong, a research officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office who was granted investigative authority in the recent prosecution personnel reshuffle, revealed that she was suspended from duty in the case related to former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook under the orders of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol. However, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office has denied this, stating that Im was never assigned to the case.

On the 2nd, Im stated on Facebook, "Just seven days after being granted investigative authority, with only 4 and 20 days left before the statute of limitations, I was suspended from duty in the case of former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook's alleged false testimony under the orders of Prosecutor General Yoon and Deputy Prosecutor General Cho Nam-gwan." She added, "On March 2nd, I received a written order from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Department regarding the transfer of duties by the Prosecutor General."

She continued, "Regarding the extensive records with an imminent statute of limitations, the Prosecutor General's order to transfer duties in a case involving suspicions about his closest aides is a very wrong choice for judicial justice, for the prosecution, and even for the Prosecutor General himself. It is regrettable and frustrating, but there is no other way to respond."

In response, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office immediately denied that the case was ever assigned to her. Since there was no assignment, Im's claim of suspension from duty is not true.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office explained, based on Article 12 and Article 7-2 of the Prosecutors' Office Act and Article 9-4 Paragraph 4 of the Regulations on the Organization of the Prosecutors' Office, "The Prosecutor General has never assigned the case to Research Officer Im, and today, for the first time, the head of the Inspection Division 3 at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office was designated as the lead prosecutor." They added, "Furthermore, the Prosecutor General instructed the lead prosecutor, the head of Inspection Division 3, to collect and report the opinions of all prosecutors who have participated in the investigation so far, including Research Officer Im."