Police have referred former Korea Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jin-sook to the prosecution without detention on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, but determined that her remarks at the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee did not constitute a crime.
According to the investigation result notification disclosed on November 21 by Lee's attorney, Lim Mu-young, on his blog, the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul referred Lee to the prosecution on charges including violation of the Public Official Election Act, but decided that her remarks made at the full meeting of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee were not grounds for indictment.
At the time, during the committee meeting, Assemblywoman Kim Hyun pointed out that Lee had posted comments critical of the Democratic Party. In response, Lee stated, "That is because the Democratic Party impeached me." In the arrest warrant, police had alleged that this remark disparaged the National Assembly's legitimate impeachment process, violated the political neutrality required of public officials, and raised suspicions that it was intended to harm the Democratic Party's presidential candidate in the election.
However, the investigation result notification concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support the charges. Police stated, "There is not enough evidence to conclude that she violated the prohibition on political activities stipulated by the State Public Officials Act. There is also insufficient evidence to regard a single remark as an act intended to influence the 21st presidential election."
Police did, however, find grounds to support the charges that Lee made politically biased statements or engaged in preliminary electioneering through a conservative-leaning YouTube channel and her own Facebook page.
Through Facebook, Lee stated, "As expected, the police have mechanically referred the case to the prosecution." She added, "The police showed no remorse for their false claim that the statute of limitations is six months or for the resulting illegal arrest."
Lee further commented, "The prosecution must act differently from the police," emphasizing that the case should be handled strictly according to legal principles.
On October 2, police arrested Lee at her home on charges of violating the State Public Officials Act and the Public Official Election Act, but she was released by order of the court. Lee protested the arrest as unjust and filed complaints against the chief and the head of the second investigative division at Yeongdeungpo Police Station, accusing them of abuse of authority. The case has been assigned to the Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office.
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