With the statute of limitations for the indictment on allegations of admission fraud related to Cho Min, daughter of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, at the Pusan National University School of Medicine approaching in two months, attention is focused on the prosecution's handling of the case. In the legal community, considering the court rulings on the former Minister Cho and his spouse, there is growing speculation that Cho Min will be indicted.
According to the legal community on the 25th, the statute of limitations (7 years) for the charges of obstruction of official duties by deception and use of forged documents related to Cho Min's fraudulent application to the Pusan National University School of Medicine will expire at the end of August.
Cho Min is accused of submitting a falsely prepared application form and self-introduction letter to the admissions office of the Pusan National University School of Medicine on June 10, 2014, and ultimately being admitted. The original statute of limitations was set to expire on June 10, 2021. However, the statute of limitations was suspended until January 27 of last year, when the co-defendant, former Dongyang University professor Jeong Gyeong-shim, was convicted after being tried on related charges on November 11, 2019. When the suspended period is added, the statute of limitations will finally expire in about two months.
Cho Min is also accused of conspiring with her parents to submit a falsely written self-introduction letter and forged supporting documents to the academic administration office of Seoul National University School of Medicine on June 17, 2013. As a result, she passed the first stage of the screening. However, the statute of limitations for this charge has been suspended as the appeal trial of former Minister Cho Kuk, the co-defendant, is ongoing.
The 5th Trial Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Min-a) is expected to first decide whether to indict Cho Min without detention before the statute of limitations expires for the Pusan National University School of Medicine admission fraud case. The verdict received by former Professor Jeong inevitably influences this decision. The first trial court found all charges against former Professor Jeong to be guilty and recognized Cho Min's conspiracy. This was confirmed through the appeal trial and Supreme Court rulings. For the prosecution, it is imperative to reach a conclusion regarding Cho Min, who the court recognized as a co-conspirator, before the statute of limitations expires.
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