Conclusion of 'Never Met' Based on Departure Records
Kim Young-chul, the deputy chief prosecutor of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office, who was accused of coaching false testimony to Jang Si-ho, the niece of Choi Seo-won (formerly Choi Soon-sil), has been cleared of charges.
On the 20th, the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (PCC) announced that it had decided not to prosecute Kim, who was accused of obstruction of justice and other charges, due to lack of evidence.
Earlier, internet media outlets 'Newtamsa' and 'Media Watch' reported allegations that Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim coached Jang Si-ho, who was a suspect during the special prosecution of the state affairs manipulation scandal, by informing her of the prosecution's sentencing demands and persuading her to practice testimony, based on a transcript of a conversation Jang had with an acquaintance in 2020.
At the time, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim issued a statement saying, "Jang made false statements to show off," and added, "I stake my entire 21-year career as a prosecutor and speak with a heart that feels like vomiting blood."
Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim also released a KakaoTalk apology message sent by Jang. In the message sent to Kim in November last year, Jang apologized, saying, "I fabricated such big lies and very bad words to show off that I have someone watching my back," and "I bow my head and sincerely apologize."
The PCC's Investigation Division 2 (Chief Prosecutor Song Chang-jin), which has been investigating this case following a citizen group's accusation, judged that there was insufficient evidence to recognize the charges of obstruction of justice, official secret leakage, and abuse of authority against Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim.
The PCC reached this conclusion based on the fact that there was no record of Jang being taken out of Seoul Detention Center for court appearances or other reasons between December 6 and 11, 2017, the period when allegations of meetings between the two were raised.
Jang, who currently resides overseas, reportedly appeared before the PCC in June as a witness and denied all allegations as untrue.
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