Accused of Negligence in Duty
Han Minsu: "Prosecutors Neglected Their Duties"
"Suspicions Must Be Clarified to Restore Common Sense and Fairness"
The Democratic Party of Korea announced that it has filed a complaint with the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HOCI) against prosecutors who decided not to indict regarding the stock manipulation allegations involving First Lady Kim Keon-hee and Deutsche Motors.
Han Min-soo, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, stated in a written briefing on the afternoon of the 23rd, "At around 2:10 PM today, the Democratic Party filed a complaint with HOCI against Lee Chang-soo, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Choi Jae-hoon, Head of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2, and Cho Sang-won, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office," adding, "on charges of dereliction of duty in the investigation related to First Lady Kim's stock manipulation allegations." He continued, "Despite very concrete evidence suggesting Kim Keon-hee's involvement in stock manipulation, the prosecutors did not conduct the necessary compulsory investigations to clarify the charges," and stated, "This constitutes dereliction of duty as they neglected their prosecutorial responsibilities to thoroughly investigate and uncover the truth."
Spokesperson Han criticized, "Stock manipulation crimes are serious offenses that disrupt the stock market," and added, "If such serious crimes were overlooked simply because the suspect is the president's wife, it effectively amounts to collusion in concealing the crime." He further argued, "This is the result of prosecutors forgetting their duties and abandoning their roles," and claimed, "Subservience to the living power only deepens the public's distrust in the prosecution."
Han also emphasized, "It is essential to clarify the stock manipulation allegations against First Lady Kim to restore lost common sense and fairness." Furthermore, he wrote, "The Democratic Party has filed complaints against the prosecutors with HOCI and hopes that appropriate responsibility will be held for undermining social justice."
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office has been investigating for over four years since April 2020, after First Lady Kim and her mother, Choi Eun-soon, were reported for stock manipulation allegations involving Deutsche Motors. After a prolonged and sluggish investigation, on the 17th, the prosecution decided not to indict Kim and Choi. The prosecution acknowledged that Kim's accounts were used in the stock manipulation but concluded there was no intent, even implicitly, and thus found no charges applicable.
The Democratic Party is also considering pursuing impeachment against Chief Prosecutor Lee Chang-soo, who was reported to HOCI on this day.
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