Representative Choi Kang-wook Answering Questions(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Ji-eun = On the morning of the 8th, Choi Kang-wook, representative of the Open Democratic Party, appeared at the first appellate trial related to allegations of violating the Public Official Election Act at the Seoul High Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and answered questions from the press. 2021.9.8
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[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Junhyung] Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, who is on trial for falsifying an internship confirmation letter for the son of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, claimed in the appellate court that the prosecution's indictment was retaliatory. Choi's side requested former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol and Seoul High Prosecutors' Office Chief Lee Seong-yoon as witnesses.
Choi's lawyer stated at the appellate trial held on the 29th at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeals Division 5-1 (Presiding Judges Choi Byeong-ryul, Won Jeong-sook, Lee Gwan-hyeong), "Since we argue that this is an abuse of prosecution rights through retaliatory indictment, Yoon Seok-yeol and Lee Seong-yoon (Chief of Seoul High Prosecutors' Office) must be summoned to clarify this."
The lawyer also mentioned the 'accusation instigation' suspicion case. This is an allegation that during the opposition's process of accusing Choi last year of violating the Public Official Election Act, the prosecution, while Yoon was in office as Prosecutor General, intervened by drafting the accusation letter and delivering it to political circles. The lawyer said, "(Son Jun-sung, who was the head of the Investigation and Information Policy Office at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office) delivered the accusation letter against the defendant (Choi) twice to Kim Woong, then a candidate for the Future United Party in the general election (currently a member of the People Power Party)," adding, "This shows how much the Yoon Seok-yeol prosecution regarded the defendant, who was at the forefront of prosecution reform, as a thorn in their side."
Furthermore, the lawyer argued that despite Lee Seong-yoon, then head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, opposing the indictment during the investigation of Choi, Yoon Seok-yeol ordered the indictment to proceed, which constitutes a 'retaliatory indictment.' The Public Official Election Act violation case mentioned by the lawyer concerns the last year's general election period, where Choi was accused of falsely claiming that the internship confirmation letter he wrote for Cho's son was genuine, but was indicted for false statement. This case is being tried separately from the internship confirmation letter falsification (obstruction of business) charge heard on the same day. Both cases resulted in guilty verdicts in the first trial.
The court reserved judgment on Choi's side's witness requests. The court said, "If the purpose is clarified, the court will discuss and decide," adding, "Realistically, even if the witnesses are accepted, it is difficult to guarantee their attendance."
The prosecution stated, "We handled the case by following evidence and legal principles according to professional conscience, and did not investigate or handle the case blindly under anyone's orders," adding, "We regret the one-sided speculation that disparages many prosecutors."
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