PCC "Investigation Proceeding Regardless of Special Prosecutor"... Review of Recalling Commander Kim Gye-hwan

The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (HOCI), which is investigating allegations of external pressure in the death case of Marine Corps Corporal Chae, has stated that it will proceed with the investigation independently of the special prosecutor currently being discussed in the National Assembly.

Marine Corps Commander Kim Gye-hwan is entering the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (Gong-su-cheo) at the Government Complex Gwacheon on the morning of the 4th to undergo investigation related to allegations of external pressure on the investigation of the death of Marine Corps Corporal Chae-mo.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

A HOCI official said on the 7th, "Rather than focusing on what would happen if a special prosecutor is appointed, we are proceeding according to the investigation team's schedule and the order of coordinating summonses of related parties, regardless of such factors."

HOCI is considering re-summoning Marine Corps Commander Kim Gye-hwan, who is suspected of being involved in the process of exerting external pressure on Colonel Park Jeong-hoon, the former head of the Marine Corps investigation team who conducted the initial investigation into Corporal Chae's death in July-August last year. Commander Kim appeared before HOCI on the 4th of this month as a suspect on charges of abuse of power and was questioned for about 15 hours before being released.

Once the investigation of Commander Kim and others is completed, HOCI plans to summon former Deputy Minister of National Defense Shin Beom-cheol and former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop to verify whether they exerted external pressure in the Corporal Chae case.

A HOCI official said regarding the timing of the investigation's conclusion, "There is no specific deadline set," adding, "Since this is a matter of public interest, although the circumstances are difficult, we intend to proceed at the fastest pace possible."

Additionally, regarding the allegation of misconduct against Prosecutor Lee Jeong-seop of the Daejeon High Prosecutors' Office, HOCI stated, "It is not yet at the stage to consider requesting a transfer to the prosecution," and emphasized, "Our policy is to exercise the right to request transfer very cautiously and with restraint."

HOCI revealed that before the prosecution conducted a search and seizure of the forensic company holding the mobile phone data of Prosecutor Lee's brother-in-law on the 30th of last month, they had requested voluntary submission of the data from the company, but the request was unsuccessful.