Court Rules Search and Seizure Lawful...
Superintendent Lee Appeals to Supreme Court
Investigation Ongoing into Alleged Abuse of Power
Over Hiring of High School Classmate as Auditor
Lee Jeongseon, Superintendent of Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, who is under investigation for allegedly intervening in the hiring process of a high school classmate as an auditor, filed a quasi-appeal claiming the prosecution's search and seizure was unlawful. However, the court did not accept his claim.
According to legal sources on July 7, Presiding Judge Jang Chansu of the Gwangju District Court Criminal Division 3 dismissed the quasi-appeal to cancel the search and seizure warrant filed by Superintendent Lee. The court explained its reasoning by stating, "It is recognized that the prosecution, while investigating a complaint against officials of the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, also booked Superintendent Lee on the same charges and conducted the search and seizure accordingly."
Superintendent Lee's side argued that the investigation procedure was unlawful, raising an issue with the prosecution keeping the case records for six months?beyond the legal deadline of 90 days?after the police decided not to refer the case in September last year. They claimed that the prosecution neither returned the records nor requested a reinvestigation in accordance with the proper procedure at the time. However, the court did not accept this argument.
Superintendent Lee is currently under prosecution investigation for allegedly intervening in August 2022 to have a specific individual, who was his high school classmate, hired as an auditor at the city education office. At that time, the personnel team leader, identified as Mr. A, was indicted and detained on charges including falsifying official documents and is currently undergoing trial in the first instance.
Superintendent Lee's side has appealed the court's decision to the Supreme Court.
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