[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HCIC) has requested an arrest warrant for Son Jun-sung, the former Investigation Information Policy Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (currently the Human Rights Protection Officer at Daegu High Prosecutors' Office), who is a key figure in the so-called 'accusation ordering' scandal.
On the 25th, the HCIC stated, "We filed a pre-arrest warrant for Prosecutor Son at the Seoul Central District Court last weekend," adding, "Despite repeated requests for his appearance and cooperation in the investigation, he showed an uncooperative attitude by continuously postponing his appearance with reasons that are difficult to accept," explaining the background of the request.
The HCIC applied charges against Prosecutor Son including abuse of authority, obstruction of the exercise of rights, disclosure of official secrets, election interference, violation of the Public Official Election Act, and violation of the Personal Information Protection Act.
Since the HCIC was launched in January, this is the first time it has sought to secure the suspect's custody during an investigation.
Prosecutor Son is suspected of instructing prosecutors and investigators to draft complaints and collect supporting materials against figures from the ruling party while serving as the Investigation Information Policy Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in April last year, and delivering the complaints to Kim Woong, then a candidate for the United Future Party in the general election.
Meanwhile, the Seoul Central District Court has scheduled a pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant substantive examination) for Prosecutor Son at 10:30 a.m. on the 26th. The hearing will be presided over by Judge Lee Se-chang, who is in charge of warrants.
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