Prosecutors Reject Arrest Warrant for Independent Lawmaker Kim Byung-ki, Citing Insufficient Grounds

[Anchor]

Four days ago, the police requested an arrest warrant for independent lawmaker Kim Byung-ki, exactly one year after launching an investigation into him. However, the prosecutors returned the warrant today (September 11), stating that the grounds for his arrest were insufficient.

Here is more from reporter Son Gijun.

[Reporter]

Independent lawmaker Kim Byung-ki has been under investigation since September of last year over 13 allegations surrounding himself and his family.

Lawmaker Kim, who previously served as a ruling party floor leader, consistently expressed confidence during seven rounds of police summons, up until his final questioning last April.

[Kim Byung-ki / Independent Lawmaker (Last April): It feels like they are calling me in too often, but is there any way an arrest warrant would actually be requested?]

After 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 probe began.

This came after the Investigation Review Committee recommended last month that the case be handled swiftly within a month.

The police specified five allegations in the warrant—including soliciting employment for his second son to meet Soongsil University transfer requirements, turning a blind eye to lawmaker Kang Sun-woo's acceptance of 100 million won, and receiving sponsorship funds from Silla Leisure—and emphasized the necessity of his detention. However, the prosecution's judgment was different.

The prosecution stated that because Kim complied with seven rounds of summons and five months had passed since his final questioning, the justification for his detention was lacking. This is interpreted as meaning that too much time has elapsed to consider him a flight risk or a threat to destroy evidence.

The prosecution also demanded supplementary investigations, noting that charges such as bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, Etc. of Specific Crimes and obstruction of business, which the police included in the warrant, require reinforced evidence.

[Lee Woong-hyuk / Professor of Police Science, Konkuk University: Ultimately, isn't this the result of an investigation that lacked the neutral, decisive will and courage regarding an influential politician? The argument itself that there is a risk of evidence destruction a whole year later lacks significant logic....]

A police official stated that they will review the prosecution's reasons for returning the warrant, conduct supplementary investigations, and then decide whether to reapply for an arrest warrant.

(Video Editing: Kim Yoon-sung, Design: Lee Ga-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.