[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, said regarding the investigation into the land speculation allegations involving employees of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), "Since it cannot be concluded that there is no public office corruption, the prosecution must keep that possibility open and prepare accordingly."
On the 9th, Minister Park, during his visit to the Ansan branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, which formed a 'Real Estate Speculation Investigation Task Force,' stated, "During the 1st and 2nd phase new town speculation, there were so-called corruption crimes and bribery cases, and the prosecution conducted direct investigations that yielded significant results."
Regarding the possibility of direct prosecution investigations, he added, "There are limitations on the targets and amounts that the prosecution can directly investigate, but all such possibilities are being kept open." He continued, "The President and Prime Minister used the term 'eradication,' and from that perspective, I have high expectations for the prosecutors at the Ansan branch."
The Ansan branch formed the investigation task force the day before concerning allegations of land speculation by LH executives and employees in the planned sites of Gwangmyeong and Siheung new towns. However, this measure considers cooperation with the police rather than direct prosecution investigation. Minister Park also explained, "According to the investigation guidelines for mutual cooperation between prosecution and police following the reform of investigative authority, it is possible to exchange opinions between prosecution and police before case transfer," adding, "From that perspective, the prosecution can engage in organic on-site cooperation with the police regarding investigation techniques, directions, and legal principles."
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