[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Testimony has emerged that there was no discussion at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office about halting the investigation when issues were raised regarding the illegal travel ban on former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hak-ui.
Moon Hong-seong, current head of the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor), testified to this effect on the 17th at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 27 (Presiding Judge Kim Ok-gon) during the trial of Lee Seong-yoon, Research Commissioner at the Judicial Research and Training Institute (Senior Prosecutor). At the time, Prosecutor Moon was a senior researcher in the Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
When asked by Lee's defense attorney, "Did you discuss any methods to stop the investigation together with Commissioner Lee and Kim Hyung-geun, Chief of Bucheon Branch of Incheon District Prosecutors' Office (then head of the investigation command division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office)?" Prosecutor Moon replied, "To my recollection, no such discussion took place." He also added, "What I remember is that the head of the investigation command division said he would contact the Chief of Anyang Branch of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office to confirm certain matters."
When the defense attorney asked again, "Did you think about stopping the investigation into Prosecutor Lee Gyu-won?" Prosecutor Moon answered, "No, I did not." Regarding Chief Kim and Commissioner Lee, he testified, "I did not hear any mention that they had such thoughts." He further testified, "While there may have been questions about the appropriateness of the investigation command at the time, I never heard any orders like 'stop the investigation' or 'do not report misconduct occurrences' from the beginning."
This testimony contradicts the prosecution's charges that Commissioner Lee, Prosecutor Moon, and Chief Kim discussed ways to halt the investigation into former Vice Minister Kim's illegal travel ban during a morning meeting on June 20, 2019.
However, Prosecutor Moon added that on June 28, 2019, he received a message from a Ministry of Justice prosecution bureau official stating, "The Minister of Justice is very angry about the illegal travel ban investigation. What is going on?" He elaborated, "There may have been a negative atmosphere regarding the investigation at that time."
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