Success in Securing the 'Core' by Three Special Prosecutors... What is the Next Investigation Direction?[Legal Insight]

[Financial News] The three special prosecutor teams have succeeded in securing the custody of Yoon Seok-yeol, the former president, and his wife, who are at the center of various allegations. The special prosecutor teams have captured the two individuals just a month and a half after starting the full-scale investigation, drawing attention to the future investigation direction of the three special prosecutor teams. However, depending on the progress of the timeline, such as the speed of investigation by each special prosecutor, securing evidence and testimony, and securing the custody of the suspects, the direction of the investigation may change at any time.
According to the legal community on the 17th, the three special prosecutor teams, which succeeded in securing the custody of the former president and his wife, are accelerating their investigation.
First, the special prosecutor team for rebellion and foreign affairs (led by Cho Eun-seok) re-arrested the 'key suspect' former president Yoon on the 10th of last month and additionally arrested and indicted him on the 19th of the same month. Currently, the special prosecutor team is focusing on allegations related to rebellion, such as 'media blackout and water cut-off charges' and 'involvement and aiding charges of cabinet members'. The special prosecutor team, which succeeded in arresting Lee Sang-min, the former Minister of Public Administration and Security, is expected to soon apply for an arrest warrant for Han Deok-soo, the former Prime Minister. In particular, the special prosecutor team believes that the testimony given to the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court, where former Prime Minister Han claimed he was unaware of the martial law declaration in advance, is false. The special prosecutor team plans to proceed with the investigation based on the police investigation materials that secured the closed-circuit (TV) footage before the emergency martial law cabinet meeting.
In addition, the special prosecutor team is intensifying its investigation into the 'obstruction of parliamentary voting charges' on the day of the emergency martial law. It is alleged that former floor leader of the People Power Party, Chu Kyung-ho, obstructed the voting of lawmakers by changing the location of the general assembly several times after communicating with former president Yoon and former Prime Minister Han following the declaration of emergency martial law. The special prosecutor team has summoned and investigated lawmakers Cho Kyung-tae and Kim Ye-ji, who participated in the vote, and plans to summon and investigate related lawmakers in the future.
Furthermore, the rebellion special prosecutor team is also focusing on clarifying foreign exchange charges. The main point is that they tried to secure justification for emergency martial law by provoking through sending drones to Pyongyang, North Korea. The special prosecutor team is concentrating on proving the charges by continuously summoning and investigating military officials, such as former Army Intelligence Commander Noh Sang-won and Drone Operations Commander Kim Yong-dae, instead of former president Yoon, who is refusing to testify and appear.
The special prosecutor team led by Min Joong-ki, which is investigating 16 allegations surrounding Mrs. Kim, including the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation allegations, is tracking luxury goods that flowed to Mrs. Kim. Mrs. Kim is suspected of receiving two Chanel bags and a Graff necklace handed over by the Unification Church through Jeon Seong-bae, a Buddhist monk, a Vacheron Constantin watch claimed to be handed over directly by businessman Seo Seong-bin, a Dior bag received from Pastor Choi Jae-young, and a Van Cleef necklace, earrings, and brooch delivered by Seohee Construction. The special prosecutor team is currently tracking the route of the Van Cleef necklace submitted by Seohee Construction along with a confession, except for the genuine one and the fake one secured during the seizure and search process.
Depending on how Mrs. Kim, who is exercising her right to remain silent and not opening her mouth, cooperates with the investigation in the future, the direction of the special prosecutor team's investigation is also expected to change. Although Mrs. Kim denied most of the charges during the first summons investigation on the 6th, the special prosecutor team presented evidence that overturned her testimony during the warrant review. Mrs. Kim's side is interpreted to be keeping her words to a minimum and denying the charges, as they do not know what weapon the special prosecutor team is holding.
The special prosecutor team led by Lee Myung-hyun, which succeeded in clarifying the 'VIP Rage Theory', is focusing on the 'rescue lobbying allegations', 'investigation pressure allegations', and 'escape allegations of Ambassador to Australia Lee Jong-ho'. It is said that the individuals who attended the meeting, where the 'VIP Rage Theory' involving former National Security Office Director Cho Tae-yong was mentioned, overturned their previous testimony and acknowledged the rage of former president Yoon. The special prosecutor team is speeding up to determine whether former president Yoon's aides and close associates contacted Mrs. Kim to save former division commander Lim Seong-geun after Yoon's rage, and whether there was any pressure during the police transfer process. Although the special prosecutor team has not yet secured custody, they are taking a cautious approach by securing a considerable amount of evidence, such as the records of the secret phone. The special prosecutor team is expected to attempt to summon and investigate former president Yoon soon to specifically confirm the charges.
However, since the three special prosecutor teams have about three months left, the future investigation direction can change at any time. All three special prosecutor teams are currently continuing their investigations and have additional recognized allegations. In line with this, the ruling Democratic Party has proposed a bill to extend the special prosecutor team's deadline, so the special prosecutor team plans to adjust the timeline considering the remaining time.

theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter