[Anchor]
Four days ago, the police requested an arrest warrant for independent Representative Kim Byung-ki, exactly one year after launching their investigation. However, prosecutors returned the warrant today (September 11), stating that the necessity for detention has not been sufficiently explained.
Here is a report from Son Gijun.
[Reporter]
Independent Representative Kim Byung-ki has been under investigation since September of last year regarding 13 allegations surrounding himself and his family.
Rep. Kim, who previously served as a ruling party floor leader, maintained his confidence throughout seven police summons, up until his final questioning last April.
[Kim Byung-ki / Independent Representative (Last April): It feels like they are calling me in too often, but is there any possibility an arrest warrant would actually be requested?]
Afterwards, while repeatedly claiming for five months that the investigation was in its final stages, the police requested an arrest warrant on the 7th, marking one year since the investigation began.
This came after the Investigation Deliberation Committee recommended last month that the case be handled swiftly within a month.
The police emphasized the necessity for detention by listing five charges in the warrant, including soliciting employment for his second son to meet Soongsil University's transfer requirements, turning a blind eye to Representative Kang Sun-woo's alleged acceptance of 100 million won, and receiving sponsorship funds from Silla Leisure. However, the prosecutors reached a different conclusion.
Prosecutors stated that the necessity for detention was insufficiently demonstrated, noting that he had complied with seven summons and that five months had passed since his final questioning. This is interpreted to mean too much time has elapsed to consider him a flight risk or a risk for destroying evidence.
Prosecutors also requested supplementary investigations, stating that among the charges specified by the police in the arrest warrant—such as bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes and obstruction of business—evidence needs to be reinforced.
[Lee Woong-hyuk / Professor of Police Science, Konkuk University: Ultimately, isn't this the result of an investigation that lacked the neutral, resolute will and courage regarding an influential politician? The argument itself that there is a risk of destroying evidence a full year later lacks significant logic....]
A police official stated that they will review the prosecutors' reasons for returning the warrant, conduct supplementary investigations, and then decide whether to reapply for the arrest warrant.
(Video Editing: Kim Yoon-sung, Design: Lee Ga-jin)
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