Police Call 'Investigation Guidelines' Allegations "Baseless Claims"
"The Reality Revealed by Police Differs Greatly from Previous Suspicions"
Possibility of Veto on Special Prosecutor Law at Cabinet Meeting on the 9th
President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the 'Second Half Economic Policy Direction and Dynamic Economy Roadmap Announcement' event held on the 3rd at the Blue House State Guesthouse in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The Presidential Office dismissed claims from some opposition parties that the police concluded not to indict former Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Im Seong-geun in the investigation of the 'Chae Sang-byeong line-of-duty death case' based on guidelines from the Presidential Office as "baseless assertions."
Regarding the Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act, which was passed in the National Assembly plenary session led by the Democratic Party of Korea, the office stated, "It will not take that long to decide on the request for reconsideration."
A Presidential Office official said this on the afternoon of the 8th at the Yongsan Presidential Office while meeting with reporters about the police investigation results on the same day concerning the Chae Sang-byeong line-of-duty death case.
Earlier, the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency announced that it would not indict former Division Commander Im and two lower-ranking officers, stating that Im's managerial responsibility and the causal relationship to Chae Sang-byeong's death were not recognized.
On the other hand, six military personnel, including on-site commanders, were sent to the prosecution on charges of professional negligence causing death.
This outcome contrasts with earlier reports from the Marine Corps investigation team and the Ministry of National Defense's interim investigation report. Consequently, opposition parties raised suspicions that the police effectively excluded former Division Commander Im and others from indictment targets following investigation guidelines from the Presidential Office.
In fact, on the 1st, Presidential Chief Secretary Jeong Jin-seok appeared at a full meeting of the National Assembly's Steering Committee and stated, "The essence of the Chae Sang-byeong case is that (former) Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop's legitimate order to withhold transfer was violated by Investigation Team Leader Park Jeong-hoon," denying any Presidential Office pressure to exclude former Division Commander Im from the investigation.
Regarding this, a Presidential Office official said on the day, "If we don't answer the questions asked at the Steering Committee, how else can we respond?" and added, "If we didn't provide guidelines to the police and didn't answer the Steering Committee's questions, wouldn't we be criticized again for not responding?"
He continued, "First, we respect the police investigation results, and it has become clear that the substantive truth revealed by the police differs significantly from the suspicions raised so far," adding, "We hope the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) will promptly conclude its investigation and quickly clarify the facts."
The Presidential Office also reiterated its intention to exercise a veto against the Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act passed by the National Assembly plenary session.
The official said, "There was also a request from the People Power Party, and a special prosecutor bill with increased unconstitutionality was submitted," adding, "It is expected that it will not take that long to decide on the request for reconsideration."
Accordingly, it is strongly suggested that on the 9th, the Cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister will resolve the veto, and President Yoon will approve the veto electronically while on his overseas trip.
Meanwhile, regarding the ongoing text message controversy between candidate Han Dong-hoon and First Lady Kim Geon-hee ahead of the People Power Party leadership election, the Presidential Office stated, "The Presidential Office's position was released the day before," and "We will not comment further."
Earlier, ahead of the general election in January, it was alleged that First Lady Kim Geon-hee conveyed her willingness to publicly apologize regarding the 'luxury handbag acceptance' controversy to candidate Han, who was then the emergency committee chairman, via Telegram messages, but Han ignored it.
In response to renewed controversy over the Presidential Office's interference in the People Power Party leadership election, a senior Presidential Office official stated, "We have not intervened or interfered in any way in the People Power Party leadership election process and will not do so in the future."
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