(Seoul = News1) Reporter Han Sang-hee: The Special Committee on the Protection of Judicial Justice and Prevention of Dictatorship of the People Power Party (Chairperson Jo Bae-sook) announced on the 1st that they have filed a complaint with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials against Special Prosecutor Lee Myung-hyun and Deputy Special Prosecutor Jeong Min-young of the Special Investigation Team for the deceased Marine Corps member.
In a press release on the same day, the committee stated that they accused Special Prosecutor Lee and Deputy Special Prosecutor Jeong of abuse of power obstructing the exercise of rights (Criminal Act Article 123), neglect of duty (Criminal Act Article 122), and defamation due to the publication of false facts (Criminal Act Article 307, Paragraph 2).
Previously, the special investigation into the deceased Marine Corps member handed over 33 individuals, including former President Yoon Seok-yeol, for trial and concluded the investigation on the 28th of last month.
The committee claimed that Special Prosecutor Lee withdrew an appeal in the case involving former Marine Corps Investigation Chief Park Jung-hoon, which was being processed by the military prosecution, within seven days of the case transfer. They argued, “The withdrawal of the appeal was an overreach of authority not explicitly granted by the Special Prosecutor Act, and even if it falls within the duties of the special prosecutor, it is a significant abuse of discretion that deviates from authority.”
The committee specifically took issue with Special Prosecutor Lee mentioning “abuse of prosecutorial power” in a briefing on July 9 regarding the military prosecution’s indictment, which they claimed constituted defamation by publishing false facts.
They further stated, “This neglects the core duty of the special prosecutor to ascertain the truth through maintaining prosecution, and it leads to an unprecedented illegal withdrawal of appeals in which the Lee Jae-myung administration abandoned the confiscation of 7.4 trillion won in criminal proceeds in the Daejangdong case.”
Regarding Deputy Special Prosecutor Jeong Min-young, they stated that he actively participated in the decision to withdraw the legally questionable appeal and made statements that distorted legal principles, thereby aiding and partnering in the crimes of the special prosecutor.
The committee emphasized, “The special prosecutor, who should be uncovering the truth behind suspicions of external pressure in the investigation of the Marine Corps member’s death, has instead blocked the opportunity to uncover the truth, betraying the public’s trust and damaging judicial justice, which necessitates severe punishment.”