Simultaneous Search and Seizure at Over 10 Locations, Including Residences of Yoon Sanghyun, Kim Youngsun, and Kim Sangmin
Sambu Construction Stock Manipulation Probe Accelerates
Kim Taehyo Summoned as Suspect for Questioning
The special prosecutor's team investigating Kim Keonhee simultaneously conducted search and seizure operations at more than 10 locations, including the residences of Yoon Sanghyun, a key figure in the "nomination interference allegations" and a member of the People Power Party, former lawmaker Kim Youngsun, and former deputy chief prosecutor Kim Sangmin. The special prosecutor suspects that former President Yoon and his wife received 81 opinion poll results and other information free of charge from political broker Myung Taegyun, and that they intervened in the nomination of former lawmaker Kim Youngsun through Yoon Sanghyun, who was then the chairman of the nomination management committee.
On July 8, Special Prosecutor Assistant Oh Junghui stated in a briefing, "The special prosecutor's team has designated as investigation targets the allegations of improper intervention in the 2021 by-elections, the 2022 8th local elections, and other by-elections." In relation to the nomination interference allegations, a recording was released in which former President Yoon, on May 9, 2022?the day before the by-election nomination announcement?told Myung Taegyun over the phone, "I will talk to Sanghyun (referring to lawmaker Yoon Sanghyun) once more. He is the nomination committee chair." First Lady Kim Keonhee is also suspected of exerting influence over former lawmaker Kim Youngsun, who is connected to Myung, in order to have former prosecutor Kim Sangmin run for office in the Changwon Uichang district ahead of last year's general election.
The special prosecutor's team also searched the National Police Agency's Intelligence Bureau and the National Investigation Headquarters in connection with allegations of attempts to quash the investigation into Jeon Seongbae, known as "Geonjin Bopsa." It is reported that the special prosecutor's team has secured police investigation records related to allegations of overseas gambling by the leadership of the Unification Church. The investigation into First Lady Kim's alleged involvement in stock manipulation of Sambu Construction is also gaining speed. The special prosecutor's team has assigned two personnel from the Korea Securities Depository to the investigation to trace the flow of funds. The Korea Securities Depository staff are responsible for analyzing changes in Sambu Construction's shareholdings, as well as tracking the flow of transactions involving borrowed-name trades, bonds with warrants (BW), and convertible bonds (CB).
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor's team investigating the death of Chae, a Marine Corps sergeant, announced that it will summon former First Deputy Director of National Security Office Kim Taehyo as a suspect for questioning on July 11 in connection with the "VIP (former President Yoon) rage theory." The "VIP rage theory" refers to allegations that former President Yoon, after being briefed on the initial investigation results of the Marine Corps investigation team regarding the death of Sergeant Chae at a meeting with senior aides, became angry and said, "If you punish the division commander (Im Seonggeun, then commander of the 1st Marine Division) over this, who would want to be division commander?" It is alleged that this anger exerted pressure on the investigation.
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