The special prosecutor team led by Lee Myunghyun, which is investigating allegations of external pressure in the investigation into the death of Marine Corps Corporal Chae, plans to summon Kim Kyewhan, the former Marine Corps Commandant whose arrest warrant was denied, again as a suspect.
On July 23, Deputy Special Prosecutor Jung Minyoung stated at a regular briefing, "Former Commandant Kim changed part of his position on this matter during the pretrial detention hearing, compared to his stance prior to the arrest warrant request," and added, "For the first time, he admitted in court that he was aware of former President Yoon Sukyeol's anger."
Deputy Special Prosecutor Jung said, "The special prosecutor team determined that additional investigation is necessary regarding other allegations, including the change in former Commandant Kim's testimony," and added, "We plan to summon former Commandant Kim again as a suspect for questioning in the near future."
Previously, the special prosecutor team requested an arrest warrant for former Commandant Kim on charges including perjury with malicious intent, claiming that he gave false testimony in the military court and at the National Assembly audit by stating that he had never heard of the so-called 'VIP anger rumor.' However, the court denied the warrant after a pretrial detention hearing the previous day, stating that there was no risk of evidence destruction or flight by former Commandant Kim.
Former Commandant Kim was the highest-ranking commander in the Marine Corps at the time of Corporal Chae's death in July and August 2023. He has been identified as the person who conveyed to then Marine Corps Investigation Chief Colonel Park Junghoon the so-called 'VIP anger rumor,' which claimed that former President Yoon Sukyeol became furious after receiving the results of the initial investigation.
Former Commandant Kim had denied any knowledge of the rumor after Colonel Park exposed it, but at the detention hearing the previous day, he admitted for the first time in two years that he was indeed aware that former President Yoon was angry at the time.
It has been reported that former Commandant Kim stated in court that he believes he was informed of former President Yoon's anger by figures such as then Presidential Office Defense Secretary Lim Kihun.
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor team plans to question Heo Taekeun, former Policy Chief at the Ministry of National Defense, as a witness on July 25. He was present at the ministerial briefing on the initial investigation into Corporal Chae's case by the Marine Corps Investigation Team on July 30, 2023.
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