Prosecution: "Jo Woohyeong Was Not a Subject of Investigation for Bribery During the Busan Savings Bank Probe"
JTBC has decided to file a criminal complaint against Bong Ji-wook, a NewsTapa reporter who claimed that the investigation into himself was a 'planned operation by the prosecution and JTBC.'
JTBC stated in a press release distributed on the afternoon of the 5th, "We would like to address JTBC's position regarding the false statements made by Bong Ji-wook, a NewsTapa reporter, today," adding, "JTBC has decided to file a criminal complaint for defamation against Bong Ji-wook, who spread false information related to our company."
JTBC said, "The statement made by reporter Bong upon appearing before the prosecution today, that 'JTBC might have pre-planned this with the prosecution,' is a clear falsehood."
They continued, "JTBC is currently conducting an internal investigation into the report from February 2022, when reporter Bong was employed here, and plans to disclose the results independently of the prosecution's investigation."
Bong, who worked as a reporter at JTBC, reported last February based on the prosecution's suspect interrogation records of Nam Wook, one of the private investors in the Daejang-dong case, that during the 2011 Busan Savings Bank incident, the lead prosecutor made coffee for loan broker Jo Woo-hyung, who was under investigation, implying that the lead prosecutor was Yoon Seok-yeol, then head of the Central Investigation Division 2. Subsequently, Bong moved to NewsTapa.
After allegations surfaced regarding the 'Kim Man-bae - Shin Hak-rim false interview,' JTBC admitted and apologized for distorted reporting, acknowledging that reporter Bong had heard facts different from the report directly from Mr. Jo but did not reflect them in the coverage.
On the morning of the same day, Bong appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office to observe the digital forensic procedure on seized materials and told reporters, "JTBC is actively cooperating with the prosecution's frame of 'presidential election manipulation,'" adding, "I think JTBC might have pre-planned this with the prosecution."
He also criticized JTBC, saying, "It was a report that went through the desk's judgment and editorial meetings. It was a report that followed all normal procedures, but now they suddenly apologize."
Meanwhile, a Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office official said, "We consider reporter Bong's remarks as a personal statement," adding, "We will clarify the matter through investigation."
The official explained, "The report at that time concerned allegations of investigation suppression related to Jo Woo-hyung by Yoon Seok-yeol, who was then a leading candidate," adding, "The issue is whether Yoon Seok-yeol conducted the investigation, not that the investigation into Jo Woo-hyung did not happen."
The official further emphasized, "The Busan Savings Bank's poor investigation was due to illegal loans involving the bank's management, which caused the bank's insolvency," adding, "Jo Woo-hyung's bribery charges were not subject to investigation and have not been confirmed."
He added, "As the Daejang-dong loan funds became non-performing and were being recovered, additional charges against Jo Woo-hyung were confirmed, revealing those charges. To forcibly label this as a poor investigation is a misdirection of the argument."
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