The fact-finding team of the Committee for the Future of Prosecution and Respect for Human Rights (Prosecution Future Committee) has been denied access to trial records in the case of Kim Yong, former deputy director of the Institute for Democracy, by the Supreme Court.

The First Division of the Supreme Court (Justice Seo Kyung-hwan presiding) rejected the fact-finding team's request for cooperation in viewing and copying the records yesterday.

This decision came six days after the fact-finding team requested the trial records regarding charges including violations of the Political Funds Act against the former deputy director on July 2.

A Supreme Court official explained that the measure appears to be in accordance with criminal law and related regulations that specify who is eligible to view and copy such records.

In a statement released today, the fact-finding team explained, "In accordance with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office guidelines regarding the operation of the team, we are securing investigation and trial records for the seven cases selected for investigation via the Supreme Prosecutors' Office." They added, "For the case of former deputy director Kim, which is currently being tried at the Supreme Court, we also applied for access to the records through the Supreme Prosecutors' Office."

The team continued, "We cannot confirm the specific reasons why the Supreme Court denied the request to view and copy the trial records," adding, "The team needs to secure and review the prosecution's evidence records currently submitted to the court to carry out its duties. We plan to reapply to the Supreme Court after providing a detailed explanation of the reasons why access is necessary."

The Prosecution Future Committee was launched on June 10 to uncover the truth behind allegations of human rights violations and abuse of prosecutorial power.

Currently, the seven cases under investigation include the Ssangbangwool Group's illegal remittance to North Korea, the Daejang-dong development scandal, the case of former Institute for Democracy deputy director Kim Yong, the Wirye New Town development scandal, the case of the public official killed in the West Sea, the statistics manipulation case, and the alleged false reporting case regarding the defamation of Yoon Suk Yeol.
(Photo: Yonhap News)