[Anchor]
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was indicted on charges of aiding the escape of former Defense Minister Lee Jong-seob—a key suspect in the investigation into the death of Marine Corporal Chae—by appointing him as the ambassador to Australia, has been acquitted in the first trial. The court reasoned that it is difficult to conclude there was an intent to obstruct the investigation.
Reporter Jeon Yeonnam has the story.
[Reporter]
On March 4, 2024, former Defense Minister Lee Jong-seob was abruptly appointed as the ambassador to Australia.
At the time, Lee was a key suspect in allegations of external pressure regarding the investigation into Corporal Chae's death and was subject to a travel ban. When the Ministry of Justice lifted the ban and he left the country, suspicions were raised that he was being helped to flee.
Last year, the independent counsel team investigating the allegations concluded that Lee was appointed ambassador to conceal the suspicion of investigative interference. In November of last year, the team indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges including harboring a criminal.
[Jung Minyoung / Independent Counsel Assistant for Corporal Chae (November of last year): To prevent the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials investigation from expanding to the president himself and the presidential office, steps were taken to send Lee Jong-seob as the ambassador to Australia.]
However, the first-instance court acquitted former President Yoon.
[Presiding Judge Cho Hyoung-woo / Seoul Central District Court Criminal Settlement Division 22: Giving instructions to appoint him without any knowledge of the travel ban itself is somewhat insufficient to view the personnel action as having been pursued with the intent or purpose of helping him escape.]
The court pointed out that "harboring a criminal means preventing investigative authorities from discovering the whereabouts of a criminal," and added that "assuming an ambassadorial post is fundamentally different from a typical instance of harboring a criminal."
It also noted that "there is room to view it as part of the exercise of personnel authority as the head of state."
Furthermore, the court pointed out that there were also problems with the sluggish investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials.
All officials from the presidential office's diplomatic and security line who were involved in the ambassadorial appointment at the time, as well as Ministry of Justice officials involved in lifting the travel ban, were also acquitted.
Former President Yoon's side welcomed the ruling, calling it "an extremely natural conclusion," while the independent counsel team stated, "We will thoroughly review the ruling and decide whether to appeal."
(Video by Yang Hyun-chul | Video Editing by Lim Yeojin)
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