Investigation into Alleged Violations of the Public Official Election Act and the National Public Service Act
Detention Review Scheduled for 3 p.m. on October 4 at the Seoul Southern District Court
The police began questioning former Korea Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jinsook on October 3, the second day after her arrest. The detention review requested by Lee's legal team is scheduled for the afternoon of October 4.
The Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul announced that from 10 a.m. on this day, they called Lee, who was being held in a detention cell, to the interrogation room for a second round of questioning.
During the second round of questioning, the police plan to focus on investigating Lee's alleged violations of the Public Official Election Act and the National Public Service Act.
As Lee is refusing to be questioned at night, the interrogation is expected to continue until around 9 p.m. The police plan to review the contents of the investigation before considering whether to apply for an arrest warrant.
Im Mooyoung, Lee's attorney, told reporters upon arriving at the police station that the detention review requested by Lee's legal team will be held at 3 p.m. on October 4 at the Seoul Southern District Court.
Im claimed that although the police asserted Lee had failed to comply with six summonses, she had submitted valid reasons for non-attendance each time and therefore had not actually refused to appear, making the arrest unjustified.
Im stated, "If the prosecutor or judge had read the statement of reasons for non-attendance, there would have been no possibility of requesting or issuing an arrest warrant," adding, "It should be revealed through the National Assembly audit whether these documents were omitted from the records."
It is reported that the police intend to proceed with the investigation as planned.
The period from when the court receives the investigation documents and evidence to when it returns them after making a decision is not counted toward the deadline for requesting an arrest warrant after the execution of a detention warrant.
Lee is accused of making politically biased remarks while appearing on four conservative YouTube channels during September and October of last year, when she was suspended from her duties.
She expressed political opinions such as, "The Democratic Party or leftist groups do everything imaginable," which the police believe constitutes a violation of political neutrality required of public officials.
She is also accused of making statements on Facebook and at the National Assembly in March and April of this year, ahead of the presidential and by-elections, with the intent to defeat Democratic Party candidates, such as calling Democratic Party lawmakers and leader Lee Jaemyung "flagrant offenders of dereliction of duty."
Im told reporters that while the facts are not disputed, he believes the legal interpretation is incorrect and insists that Lee is not guilty.
He said, "If pointing out the Democratic Party's faults is interpreted as being for the purpose of opposing the Democratic Party, then the Democratic Party becomes a sanctuary that no one can criticize," adding, "Such a situation is unthinkable in a democratic country."
After being arrested the previous day, Lee was questioned for about three hours before being placed in a detention cell around 9 p.m.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
