Trot singer Kim Ho-jung (32), who is suspected not only of fleeing after causing a drunk driving accident but also of attempting to cover up the incident, has been indicted while in custody. However, Kim avoided the charge of 'drunk driving' because the blood alcohol test could not be conducted at the time of the incident due to a driver switch. The agency's CEO and other related parties will also face trial together.
On the 18th, the Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Tae-heon) announced that Kim was indicted in custody on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (dangerous driving causing injury, hit-and-run causing injury) and violating the Road Traffic Act (failure to take action after an accident). The agency's CEO Lee (40) was indicted on charges of instructing evidence destruction, and the head of headquarters Jeon (38) was indicted on charges of aiding and abetting drunk driving under the Road Traffic Act. All three also face charges of aiding and abetting the escape of a criminal. Additionally, agency manager Jang (38) was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving), aiding and abetting escape, and evidence destruction.
According to the prosecution, on the 9th of last month, Kim drove a passenger car while intoxicated, collided with a taxi, injured the taxi driver, and fled without taking any action. Subsequently, it was revealed that agency CEO Lee ordered the removal of the black box storage device from the escape vehicle, and manager Jang actually destroyed the storage device, leading to their joint indictment.
The prosecution classifies this case as 'organized obstruction of justice' and views it as an example revealing gaps in punishment and legislation regarding drunk driving. Although Kim's blood alcohol concentration could not be measured due to judicial obstruction such as driver switching, resulting in failure to prove drunk driving, there are no separate punishment provisions for this. Therefore, the prosecution believes that to ensure the proper exercise of state criminal authority, it is essential to introduce punishment regulations for judicial obstruction, including intentional false testimony by witnesses during investigations and intentional additional drinking after a drunk driving accident.
A prosecution official stated, "We will make every effort to maintain the prosecution so that sentences commensurate with the crimes are imposed, and will continue to respond strictly to 'hit-and-run after drunk driving' that threatens innocent citizens' lives and judicial obstruction that mocks the judicial system."
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