Myeong Tae-gyun, Detention Review... Mr. Myeong's Lawyer "Many Contradictions"

The detention review hearing for Myung Tae-gyun, who is under arrest and investigation as a key figure in allegations of interference in candidate selection and illegal opinion polling, was held on the afternoon of the 27th.

The Criminal Division 3-2 of Changwon District Court in Gyeongnam (Chief Judge Yoon Min) began the detention review around 4 p.m. to reconsider whether Myung's detention is justified.

Myung Tae-gyun, a key figure suspected of intervening in candidate selection, appeared at the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office for a summons investigation. Photo by Lee Se-ryeong

Before the review began, Myung's defense attorney, who applied for the detention review the previous day, told reporters, "There are many contradictions between the whistleblower's testimony and the criminal facts stated in the detention warrant application."

Attorney Nam Sang-kwon said, "There are many contradictions in the testimony of Kang Hye-kyung, who was the accounting manager for former lawmaker Kim Young-seon," adding, "The prosecution's criminal facts in the detention warrant application appear to be based on Kang's testimony, bank accounts, and related evidence, but there are many inconsistencies."

Nam emphasized, "Regarding the amount, especially, there is evidence that Kang withdrew 55.4 million won and paid only 3 million won, but the criminal facts stated in the warrant application say 3.3 million won. That is one of the contradictions we are asserting."

He continued, "There is a part where former lawmaker Kim instructed Kang to put money in his desk drawer, which matches Kang's testimony," and argued, "The fact that the money was put in Kim's desk drawer proves that during that period, Myung did not visit the party office."

"Only former lawmaker Kim and Kang had the key to the drawer," he explained. "If someone had taken the money, the drawer would have been broken, or Kang would have handed the key to Myung, but there is no testimony that Kang handed over the key."

Furthermore, "Kang placed money in Kim's drawer and took a photo, but the photo was taken during the period when Myung did not come to the office. Kang should have delivered that photo to Myung or notified him of the fact, but there was no such thing," he added, "which proves that Myung did not take the money."

"On August 22, 2024, Myung briefly visited the party office but did not deliver the money that day, and testified that he put it in the drawer three days later on the 25th," he said, "The fact that the day Myung went to the office is the same day the money he claimed to have paid was withdrawn raises suspicion."

Attorney Nam said, "Based on this, if we impeach the credibility of Kang's testimony, I think Kang's testimony regarding the overall criminal facts will collapse."

Myeong Tae-gyun, the key figure suspected of interfering in candidate selection, appeared at the Changwon District Court for a pre-trial detention hearing. Photo by Lee Se-ryeong

Myung's side plans to submit a written statement of about 20 to 30 minutes on the day to argue the illegitimacy of the detention.

They also plan to dispute the reason for detention, which is the concern over evidence destruction, since Myung was detained at Changwon Prison on the 15th.

Previously, Myung has been accused of receiving political funds totaling 76,206,000 won from former lawmaker Kim through Kang, Kim's accounting manager, in sixteen installments from August 23, 2022, to November 24, 2023.

He is also accused of receiving 120 million won each from candidate A, a prospective candidate for Goryeong County governor in Gyeongbuk, and candidate B, a prospective Daegu city council member, between September 2021 and February 2022, in relation to candidate nominations.

Myung, who was interrogated before detention on the 14th and detained on the 15th, has had his detention period extended once and is currently detained until December 3.

The detention review is a procedure where a detained suspect requests the court to re-examine the legality of the detention, and a decision to dismiss or release is made within 24 hours after the hearing.