Special Prosecutor Summons Yoo Jae-eun for Two Consecutive Days on 'Investigation Pressure'... Lim Seong-geun "Right to Remain Silent, Constitutional Right"

[Financial News] Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Team (Lee Myung-hyun Special Prosecutor) is investigating Yoo Jae-eun, former Ministry of National Defense Legal Affairs Officer, for two consecutive days over allegations of investigation pressure related to the death of Marine Chae.
Former Officer Yoo appeared at the special prosecutor's office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, at 9:36 a.m. on the 19th. Following a high-intensity investigation for about 12 hours the previous day, he is being investigated as a suspect for the second day.
When asked by reporters about the contents of the previous day's investigation, he briefly replied, "I answered sincerely to the special prosecutor," and remained silent on additional questions regarding the investigation pressure allegations.
Former Officer Yoo is accused of being involved in the process of the Ministry of National Defense retrieving the Marine Corps Investigation Unit's initial investigation records transferred to the police and intervening when the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters re-examined the investigation records following the instructions of former Minister Lee Jong-seop. The special prosecutor plans to focus on how he communicated with the Presidential Office, Ministry of National Defense, and military prosecutors at the time.
Lim Seong-geun, former division commander, who is accused of occupational negligence resulting in death, visited the special prosecutor's office in the morning to observe the forensic procedure of his mobile phone. Earlier, he had disclosed the full transcript of the special prosecutor's suspect investigation interrogation report on his internet cafe on the 7th and 11th.
It is understood that former Division Commander Lim exercised his right to remain silent about 400 times during the investigation. When he refused to answer even basic factual questions, the prosecutor asked, "Did you attend to understand any evidence or intentions of the investigative agency?"
In response, he explained, "I have answered 164 times," and the parts where he refused to testify were already stated to the existing investigative agencies and the National Assembly. He emphasized, "I only exercised my authority as stipulated in the Constitution and the Criminal Procedure Act."
Former Division Commander Lim was the superior commander of Corporal Chae, who died in the line of duty at the flood site in Yecheon-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, on July 19, 2023, and is accused of ordering a search operation without providing safety equipment. He was initially included as a suspect in the Marine Corps Investigation Unit's initial investigation but was removed from the suspect list after the so-called 'rage' of former President Yoon Seok-yeol at the Presidential Office Chief Secretary's meeting. There are also suspicions that Kim Geon-hee intervened in the lobbying for his rescue.
 
scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter