Detention Warrant Requested for Ministry of Land Official in "Yangpyeong Expressway Allegations"
The special prosecutor team led by Min Joongki, which is investigating suspicions related to First Lady Kim Keonhee, is considering requesting an arrest warrant for Han Hakja, president of the Unification Church. Han has failed to comply with three summonses and has stated her intention to appear voluntarily on September 17 or 18. However, the special prosecutor team has taken a firm stance, saying, "Regardless of her statement, we will proceed according to the law and principles."
At a regular briefing on the 15th, an official from the special prosecutor team stated, "Today, we have treated Han's absence as a third non-compliance with the summons," adding, "Regardless of the suspect's intention to appear voluntarily, we will review and proceed with the investigation schedule according to the law and principles."
Han submitted a written explanation for her absence, citing health reasons, and has failed to comply with all three summonses from the special prosecutor team. Her side has explained that she has not recovered her health after a cardiac procedure on the 4th and has expressed her intention to appear voluntarily on either the 17th or 18th.
However, on this day, an official from the special prosecutor team stated, "We have given sufficient time, and the written explanations for her absence have been submitted unilaterally three times," adding, "We are reviewing the investigation schedule regarding this matter."
Typically, investigative authorities consider compulsory measures such as arrest if a person fails to comply with three summonses without a valid reason. Therefore, there is a possibility that the special prosecutor team may proceed with compulsory investigation as the next step.
Yangpyeong Expressway Suspicion: Ministry of Land and Transport Official to Face Detention Hearing on the 17th
Additionally, the special prosecutor team announced that it has requested a detention warrant for Mr. Kim, who was an official at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport at the time, on charges of bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes in connection with suspicions regarding the route change of the Yangpyeong Expressway.
Mr. Kim, who is known to have proposed the route change of the Yangpyeong Expressway to the consulting firm, has been identified as the "key figure" in the suspicions surrounding the route change. He is currently working at the Wonju Regional Land Management Office.
The special prosecutor team is investigating allegations that, during the promotion of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway project, the final route was changed to land owned by First Lady Kim's family, thereby granting them special favors.
The core of the suspicion is that, during the tenure of former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Heeryong, the original plan for the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway, which had its terminus in Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong County, was reviewed for a change in May 2023 to Gangsang-myeon, where land owned by First Lady Kim's family is located. Kim Seonkyou, a People Power Party lawmaker and former Yangpyeong County governor, is known to have requested the route change to the area where the Kim family land is situated. After the controversy arose, former Minister Won canceled the project in July 2023.
Previously, the special prosecutor team had conducted searches and seizures related to these suspicions at Assemblyman Kim's National Assembly office, the office of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the design department of Korea Expressway Corporation, and the offices of Donghae Engineering Consultants and Kyungdong Engineering, which were in charge of the Yangpyeong Expressway project. Mr. Kim was summoned and questioned twice, on July 15 and August 25.
The substantive warrant review for Mr. Kim is scheduled to be held at 10:30 a.m. on the 17th at the Seoul Central District Court.
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