Lee Sungyun: "Cases Referred to the CIO Cannot Be Sent Back"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy, Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] Lee Sungyun, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, who has come under investigation for the illegal travel ban case involving former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hakui, asserted that "since the prosecution has referred the case to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), it cannot be returned to the prosecution."

On the afternoon of March 3, Lee issued a statement to the press, saying, "The relevant provision of the CIO Act means that allegations against prosecutors must be investigated and handled by the CIO," and added, "Since this is a mandatory provision, it aligns with the legislative intent that a case referred to the CIO cannot be sent back to the prosecution."

The provision of the CIO Act mentioned by Lee is Article 25, Paragraph 2, which stipulates that "if another investigative agency discovers a prosecutor’s criminal suspicion, the case must be referred to the CIO." He continued, "Article 25, Paragraph 2 of the CIO Act is stipulated as a separate legal provision from Article 24, Paragraph 3, which is the general referral provision," emphasizing, "Since this is a special provision concerning 'high-ranking officials’ crimes by prosecutors,' it is reasonable to conclude that Article 24, Paragraph 3 does not apply." Article 24, Paragraph 3 of the CIO Act states that "the head of the CIO may refer a case to another investigative agency if it is deemed appropriate for that agency to investigate the crime of a high-ranking official, considering the suspect, the victim, and the nature and scale of the case."

Lee once again denied the allegations. He stated, "I have never had any direct contact or discussions with officials from the Anyang Branch regarding this case, so there can be no suspicion of a crime," denying allegations that he exerted external pressure on the Anyang Branch in 2019 while serving as the Director of the Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office.

Meanwhile, Lee has been summoned three times by the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office on suspicion of blocking the Anyang Branch’s investigation into the travel ban case involving former Vice Minister Kim. However, he only submitted written statements and did not comply with the summons, instead requesting that the case be referred to the CIO. In response, on this day, the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office referred the cases involving Lee and former Supreme Prosecutors’ Office investigator Lee Gyuwon, as well as other incumbent prosecutors, to the CIO.