Government Gwacheon Complex, Corruption Investigation Office./Photo by Corruption Investigation Office
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (Gong-su-cheo) has detected bribery allegations against a current police executive and launched a forced investigation.
The Investigation Division 3 of Gong-su-cheo (Chief Prosecutor Kim Seon-gyu) dispatched about 40 investigators on the morning of the 21st to approximately 10 locations, including the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Jongno-gu, Seoul, the office of construction-related Company A, and the residences of individuals involved in the case, conducting search and seizure operations.
A Gong-su-cheo official stated, "This is a search and seizure operation to clarify allegations of bribery related to the duties of a current high-ranking police official."
It is known that Gong-su-cheo initiated the search and seizure to secure evidence related to allegations of bribery amounting to several hundred million won involving a certain Police Superintendent General affiliated with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency under the National Police Agency. Gong-su-cheo investigators are currently securing materials such as emails and internal messenger communications from the executive's office.
Gong-su-cheo reportedly became aware of the related criminal suspicions earlier this year and conducted a preliminary investigation on its own. This is the first time Gong-su-cheo has initiated a forced investigation after independently recognizing and investigating a case.
The Police Superintendent General is the rank following the Commissioner General (Chief of Police), Senior Deputy Commissioner General, and Deputy Commissioner General, and belongs to the top police leadership. Article 2, Clause 1, Subparagraph Ha of the Gong-su-cheo Act defines "police officers of Superintendent General rank or higher" as high-ranking public officials subject to Gong-su-cheo's investigation.
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