[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HCIC) will conduct an informant investigation related to the case in which independent lawmaker Kwak Sang-do and his son were accused of bribery.
Kim Han-me, the representative of the Citizens' Action for Judicial Justice (CAJJ), announced on the 28th, "I received a call from the HCIC investigation department and am scheduled to appear at the HCIC at 2 p.m. tomorrow (29th)."
Earlier, CAJJ filed a complaint on the 28th of last month, accusing lawmaker Kwak's son, Kwak Byung-chae, of receiving a retirement payment of 5 billion KRW from Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management (Hwacheon Daeyu), which is embroiled in the 'Daejang-dong development project preferential treatment suspicion,' claiming it was a bribe and reported the father and son duo.
The HCIC is expected to conduct a preliminary investigation, including the informant investigation, to decide whether to formally register the case or transfer it to the prosecution.
Meanwhile, the prosecution investigating the Daejang-dong suspicion is focusing on whether there was any quid pro quo regarding the 5 billion KRW Kwak's son received under the name of retirement pay. On the 21st, they summoned Kwak's son as a suspect and intensely questioned him about the circumstances under which he received the retirement payment, and recently froze the 5 billion KRW Kwak received to prevent its disposal.
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