Han Dong-hoon Prosecutor to Appear as Witness on May 21
Jung Jin-woong, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, who was indicted on charges of assaulting Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon during a search and seizure operation, is attending the first trial held on the afternoon of the 19th at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] A prosecutor who was present at the scene testified as a witness in the trial of Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jin-ung of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, who is accused of assaulting Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon during a search and seizure, stating that "(Han Prosecutor’s attempt to use his mobile phone) did not seem suspicious."
At the fourth hearing on the afternoon of the 19th at 2 p.m., presided over by Judge Yang Cheol-han of the Criminal Division 22 of the Seoul Central District Court, Prosecutor Jang was asked by the prosecutor whether there was any suspicious behavior in Han Prosecutor’s conduct that would be considered unusual at the time of the incident, to which he responded accordingly.
Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong is accused of assaulting Prosecutor Han during the process of seizing Han’s mobile phone SIM card as part of the investigation into the alleged collusion between prosecutors and media last July. Official assault refers to a prosecutor or police officer abusing their authority during an investigation to arrest or assault a suspect or engage in harsh treatment.
On that day, Prosecutor Jang stated, "Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong (then a senior prosecutor) informed Prosecutor Han that he intended to execute a search warrant for the mobile phone SIM card, and I recall Han placing his mobile phone on the table," as he testified to the prosecution.
Prosecutor Jang recounted that when Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong reached to pick up Han’s mobile phone, he approached saying, "You shouldn’t do that," and that Han, sitting on the sofa, pushed to prevent his phone from being taken. He explained, "During this process, Han, whose body was pressed down, cried out in pain saying 'Ah, ah,' and I told both of them, 'Be careful! You’ll get hurt.' Afterwards, the two fell to the floor simultaneously as their bodies were pressed closely together and their center of gravity shifted downward."
He added, "Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong reached out his hand and tried to approach, and Han extended his hand in the opposite direction. I recall that Jeong bent his body and, unable to take the phone, their bodies overlapped in what looked like an embrace."
In response, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong’s defense attorney asked, "Are you saying that the situation where the defendant moved forward is what you call ‘pushing’ now?" and "Would it be better to say he ‘laid down’ rather than ‘embraced’?" but the court admonished, "Do not interrupt the witness’s answers arbitrarily."
During the trial, a video recording of the incident was also played. In the video, Han Prosecutor shouts, "Didn’t you show (the phone)!" and Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong replies, "I asked to check, but he didn’t give it. What if he opens and manipulates it?" When Han said, "Didn’t you say you were going to call your lawyer? To call, you have to unlock (the screen) with your hand," Jeong responded, "You usually use Face ID (facial recognition lock), don’t you?"
Prosecutor Jang said about the scene, "It is true that Han lifted the phone and input something, and neither Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jeong nor I, sitting opposite, could see what it was." However, he said Jeong never said before approaching Han, "I will watch you manipulate (the phone)."
The court plans to summon Prosecutor Han and the doctor who examined him at the time for witness questioning on May 21.
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