Whistleblower Jo Seong-eun in the 'accusation instigation' allegation.
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (PCC) is currently investigating the 'alleged prosecution solicitation' involving former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol. On the 27th, the PCC secretly summoned and is questioning Cho Seong-eun, who leaked the allegations to the media.
The PCC's Investigation Division 3 (Chief Prosecutor Choi Seok-gyu) summoned Cho to the PCC building in Gwacheon this morning as a witness and is conducting the investigation.
It is reported that Cho avoided the press by using a shielding facility installed in front of the PCC main gate to enter the building.
Earlier, the PCC secured Cho's mobile phone and USB devices containing the Telegram messenger conversations related to the controversial complaint documents. Subsequently, they registered former Prosecutor General Yoon and former Deputy Director of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Investigation Information Policy Division Son Jun-sung as suspects and have been investigating.
The PCC, which has been conducting forensic analysis on evidence obtained from searches of former Deputy Director Son and People Power Party lawmaker Kim Woong, is now summoning Cho for questioning, which is interpreted as a signal for the full-scale investigation.
On this day, the PCC is expected to thoroughly verify the process in April last year when complaint documents and attachments concerning ruling party politicians were exchanged between Cho and lawmaker Kim.
Following the investigation of Cho, summons and questioning of other related parties, including former Deputy Director Son and lawmaker Kim, are expected to proceed soon.
Meanwhile, the PCC has also received a complaint regarding the 'alleged solicitation of information' in which Yoon Seok-yeol's campaign side accused National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won and Cho of violating the National Intelligence Service Act and the Public Official Election Act.
The PCC has not yet decided whether to register and investigate this complaint case publicly. If the PCC investigates both the 'prosecution solicitation' and the 'information solicitation' allegations, Cho could be both a witness who reported the 'prosecution solicitation' and a suspect in the 'information solicitation' case.
Although Cho is not a high-ranking official subject to PCC investigation, there remains a possibility that she could be investigated by the PCC as a co-perpetrator who conspired with high-ranking official Director Park in the 'information solicitation' case.
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