Police, a total of 19 people booked
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The police investigating the Gwangju building collapse disaster, which resulted in 17 casualties, have booked a public official who received an illicit request during the selection process of the supervisor for the redevelopment project in question.
The Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency Investigation Headquarters announced on the 22nd that they have booked and are investigating Mr. A, a public official from the Architecture Department of Dong-gu Office, on charges of violating the Act on the Prohibition of Improper Solicitation and Graft.
Mr. A is known to have received an illicit request during the selection process of the supervision company and designated a specific company for selection.
According to current law, the selection of supervisors is conducted by a ‘random draw’ method, but Dong-gu is reported to have selected a supervisor who received a request in this project.
The police investigating the building collapse disaster have booked a total of 19 people so far, of whom 2 have been detained, and the supervisor underwent a warrant hearing this morning. The decision on whether to issue an arrest warrant is expected to be announced in the afternoon.
The Violent Crime Investigation Unit of the Investigation Headquarters, which is investigating the direct cause of the building collapse disaster, has booked and is investigating a total of 8 people.
Regarding the direct cause of the collapse, the National Forensic Service has conducted five on-site inspections together with the police up to this day, and the results are expected to be available as early as the end of this month.
The police will focus on investigating the responsibilities of the related public officials until this week, and thereafter will proceed with the investigation of Hyundai Development Company, the construction company, based on the materials secured so far.
The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit, which is investigating the overall redevelopment project, has booked and is investigating a total of 13 people. Among them, 2 overlap with the Violent Crime Investigation Unit.
The Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit is investigating three major areas: misconduct in the selection process of demolition companies, illegal subcontracting throughout the construction, and issues related to public officials’ involvement, management, and supervision.
Regarding Moon Heung-sik, former chairman of the 5·18 Detained and Injured Association, who fled overseas two days before the travel ban, efforts to persuade him to return continue.
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