[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The police are sending former Deputy Minister of Justice Lee Yong-gu to prosecution in connection with allegations of covering up the assault on a taxi driver. Additionally, Sergeant A of the Seoul Seocho Police Station, who was in charge of the case, and taxi driver B will also be referred to the prosecution.
On the 6th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced, "Based on the investigation results of the assault case involving former Deputy Minister Lee and the taxi driver, former Deputy Minister Lee will be sent to prosecution on charges of instructing evidence destruction, Sergeant A in charge of the case at Seocho Police Station will be sent on charges of special dereliction of duty, and taxi driver B will be sent on charges of evidence destruction on the 7th."
Regarding the head and team leader of the criminal division at Seocho Police Station who handled the case, it was explained, "Following the decision of the Investigation Deliberation Committee, a non-prosecution decision was made," and "The police chief, head, and team leader at the time will be subject to an internal investigation for violations of reporting obligations and negligence in command and supervision."
Earlier, the police held an Investigation Deliberation Committee and made this decision. The committee consisted of a total of 11 members, including 8 external members?3 law professors, 2 legal professionals, 2 investigation experts, and 1 public figure?and 3 internal members.
Former Deputy Minister Lee is accused of assaulting a taxi driver by grabbing his collar after arriving drunk in front of his home in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on November 6 last year, three weeks before his appointment as Deputy Minister of Justice. He is also accused of visiting the taxi driver two days after the incident and requesting the deletion of the taxi’s black box footage.
The police did not formally book Lee as the victim did not want the perpetrator to be punished, and the case was closed as a preliminary investigation. Lee, a former judge, served as the head of the Legal Affairs Office at the Ministry of Justice from August 2017 to April last year and concurrently led the Preparatory Team for the establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) from January last year, when the CIO Act was passed in the National Assembly. He was considered one of the candidates for the first CIO chief.
After the assault case on the taxi driver became public, suspicions arose that the police conducted a lenient investigation by applying the assault charge under the Criminal Act, which requires the victim’s consent to prosecute, instead of applying the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (Special Act).
Former Deputy Minister Lee tendered his resignation on May 28, about six months after his appointment, and the Blue House accepted his resignation.
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