▲ Kim Keon-hee Attending Special Counsel Questioning
The 2nd Comprehensive Special Counsel team has launched additional search and seizure operations at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Ministry of Justice regarding suspicions that the investigation into the Deutsch Motors stock price manipulation case was deliberately mishandled to favor Kim Keon-hee.
Special Prosecutor Assistant Kim Ji-mi stated during a briefing today (July 27) that "in connection with the case regarding the cover-up of the Deutsch Motors investigation, we are currently executing search and seizure warrants at the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office."
The targets of the search and seizure are understood to include computers and messenger logs used by then-Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae and the head of the Ministry's Criminal Legislation Planning Division, as well as the prosecutors' integrated information and communications network server where the investigative records of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's Anti-Corruption Division 2 are stored.
Special Prosecutor Assistant Kim explained, "This search and seizure aims to verify whether there was any intervention by the Ministry of Justice, the presidential office, or Kim Keon-hee during the process leading to the decision not to indict Kim Keon-hee, and to check for any changes in the investigative records of the Anti-Corruption Division 2 at the time."
The special counsel team previously secured related materials by conducting searches and seizures at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in March and May regarding the suspected investigation cover-up.
The special counsel team also announced that it has sought the opinion of the Special Counsel for Insurrection to decide whether to indict former 1st Security Brigade Commander of the Capital Defense Command Cho Sung-hyun (Colonel), who is suspected of involvement in the insurrection.
Additionally, regarding the Yangpyeong Expressway allegations, they stated that former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong is scheduled for an additional investigation sometime next week, following his previous questioning on the 23rd.
They further announced that the travel ban on former Minister Won has been lifted as it was not extended.
This decision was made because he complied with the summons for the first round of questioning and discussions regarding a second appearance are proceeding smoothly.
On the 28th, a visit and investigation is also scheduled for former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, who has been booked on charges of preparing and conspiring to commit murder for the purpose of insurrection in connection with the "Noh Sang-won notebook."
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