A retired colonel who was accused of defamation in connection with preferential treatment allegations during the military service of former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's son has been cleared of charges.
According to the legal community on the 22nd, the Bucheon branch of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office recently decided not to prosecute former Colonel Lee, who was transferred from the police in 2020 on defamation charges, citing lack of evidence.
Former Colonel Lee, who served as the commander of the U.S. Forces Korea Korea Support Group, was suspected of defaming former Minister Choo and her son Seo.
SBS cited a phone call recording between then-People Power Party lawmaker Shin Won-sik and former Colonel Lee, reporting that there was a request related to the unit assignment during Seo's military service.
Subsequently, former Colonel Lee issued a statement claiming that the requests were made to his aides, not to him, and that he had told the unit commander in his greeting speech to "not make any requests."
In response, Seo's side filed a defamation complaint against former Colonel Lee and SBS with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. The police, after considering the investigation of related parties and former Colonel Lee's statement, concluded that the charges against him were valid and sent the case to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment, while SBS, who was also accused, was sent with a recommendation for non-prosecution.
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