'Refusal to Testify' Kim Geon-hee, Special Prosecutor Announces Second Summons... Will the Investigation Intensify?

[Financial News] Kim Geon-hee, who is facing 16 charges including allegations of stock price manipulation of Deutsche Motors, refused to testify during her first summons investigation after being detained. The special prosecutor's team concluded the investigation in just over 4 hours and announced a re-summons. As Kim exercised her right to remain silent, it is expected that the special prosecutor's team will intensify the investigation in the next summons.
Moon Hong-ju, the assistant special prosecutor, stated that the summons investigation on Kim, which began at 9:56 AM on the 14th, ended at 2:10 PM, 4 hours and 14 minutes later. On this day, Kim was handcuffed and boarded a transport vehicle to enter the special prosecutor's office.
The morning investigation ended at 11:27 AM, just 1 hour and 31 minutes in, and the afternoon investigation resumed at 1:32 PM and concluded at 2:10 PM, just 38 minutes later. Excluding lunchtime, the actual investigation time was only 2 hours and 7 minutes.
During the summons investigation, the special prosecutor's team questioned the 'Myung Tae-kyun nomination intervention allegations'. The team prepared questions focusing on the free polls received from Mr. Myung Tae-kyun, aiming to verify Kim's involvement in 'illegal election intervention' and 'nomination intervention'. Additionally, it was reported that they inquired whether Kim's influence was exerted in the nomination process of former lawmaker Kim Young-sun ahead of the 2022 by-election.
However, unlike the previous summons where most charges were denied, Kim exercised her right to remain silent in this summons and did not speak. Assistant Special Prosecutor Moon stated, "Kim exercised her right to remain silent on most of the charges."
Kim reportedly left a brief remark instead of a statement. Assistant Special Prosecutor Moon explained, "There was a part where she expressed her thoughts rather than addressing the charges."
As Kim continues to exercise her right to remain silent, the special prosecutor's team judged that further investigation is difficult and notified an additional summons schedule. The third summons investigation on Kim is scheduled for the 18th. The special prosecutor's team stated that it is not yet decided whether the third summons will address 'illegal election intervention' and 'nomination intervention' as in the current summons.
On the same day, a confrontation with Jeon Seong-bae, who was summoned as a suspect, is not expected to take place. As both individuals firmly deny the 'Geonjin Monk solicitation allegations', the special prosecutor's team plans to trace the whereabouts of luxury items such as Chanel bags through separate investigations.
The special prosecutor's team is expected to intensify the investigation on Kim in the next summons. As Kim denies the charges and even uses her right to remain silent, it is anticipated that the special prosecutor will increase the pressure through forced investigations such as search and seizure and summons investigations related to the charges. Particularly, while maintaining the overall framework of the existing investigation, the special prosecutor's team intends to focus on proving the charges through a thorough investigation and questioning.
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor's team has applied for an arrest warrant for Kim Ye-seong, a suspect in the 'Housekeeper Gate'. The team applied charges of embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (Special Economic Crimes Act) and occupational embezzlement against Kim. It was determined that Kim committed embezzlement multiple times, whether the amount was over or under 500 million won. However, the charge of occupational breach of trust, which was specified in the previous search warrant, was excluded. Kim was arrested by the special prosecutor's team upon returning from Vietnam on the 11th.
The special prosecutor's team is also continuing its struggle with the People Power Party. The team attempted to conduct a search and seizure at the Yeouido headquarters of the People Power Party the previous day, related to the 'Geonjin Monk solicitation allegations' and violations of the Political Parties Act, but ended the search empty-handed early the next morning due to strong resistance. Although the special prosecutor's team stated that the search was for cooperation in submitting electronic data, the People Power Party opposed, claiming it was for 'political purposes' and refused to provide the party membership list. The special prosecutor's team argued that despite having a technical method to compare the Unification Church member list without checking the 5 million-member party list individually, the refusal was firm, and no agreement was reached.


theknight@fnnews.com Jeong Kyung-soo Reporter