The People Power Party stated regarding Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok's decision to refer the case of Kim Geon-hee's luxury handbag receipt to the Investigation Deliberation Committee to seek external opinions, "We believe the prosecution will make a fair judgment following appropriate procedures, and we will observe the process."
Kim Hye-ran, spokesperson for the People Power Party, said during a briefing at the National Assembly on the 24th in response to related questions from reporters, "Even when looking at the same evidence under the same legal principles, the composition of the reviewers is different," adding, "Having external committee members review the case again is a procedure that secures procedural legitimacy and public trust."
The Investigation Deliberation Committee refers to the process in which external expert members listen to the prosecution's explanation of the investigation results and then provide their opinions on the agenda.
Regarding the Democratic Party of Korea's claim that it is a "mere formality," she said, "Yesterday, they criticized the Prosecutor General as a 'figurehead prosecutor' who couldn't even refer the case to the Investigation Deliberation Committee, but as soon as it was referred, they call it a 'mere formality' and say 'the Prosecutor General is an accomplice,'" adding, "This is an attempt to undermine public trust in investigative agencies and to shake the investigative institutions."
Earlier, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "In this case, which has attracted social attention and ongoing exhausting controversy, it was decided that going through the Investigation Deliberation Committee procedure to enhance fairness and to conclude without leaving further controversy is desirable."
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