Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor, Investigation Period Extended by 30 Days... "Upper Level Investigation Remains"

[Financial News] The Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Team (Lee Myeong-hyeon Special Prosecutor) has decided to extend the investigation period, which expires on the 30th, by 30 days. This is due to the need for more time for suspect and witness investigations and analysis of seized items.
Jeong Min-young, Assistant Special Prosecutor of Chae Sang-byeong, stated at a regular briefing on the 21st, "The legally defined investigation period has ten days remaining, but there are still many parts that require additional investigation of seized items, and there are many individuals to be summoned as witnesses and suspects. Therefore, we have decided to extend the investigation period by 30 days in accordance with Article 9, Paragraph 3 of the Special Law on the Investigation of Marine Corps Deaths." The special prosecutor team plans to report the reasons for the extension of the investigation period to the National Assembly and the Presidential Office in writing next week.
According to the Special Law on the Investigation of Marine Corps Deaths, if the special prosecutor cannot complete the investigation within the 60-day period or if it is difficult to determine whether to prosecute, the period can be extended twice by 30 days each through a report three days before the end. The first extension is possible with just a report, but the second extension requires presidential approval.
The Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor began the investigation on the 2nd of last month, and the original end date was the 30th of this month. With this extension, the investigation period will be extended until September 29.
The special prosecutor team maintains that there are still many issues to investigate. In particular, although statements from working-level officials have been secured, the investigation of high-ranking officials, such as ministers and vice ministers, has not been conducted, making the extension inevitable. Assistant Special Prosecutor Jeong said, "Basic facts about lobbying for saving lives, external pressure on the investigation, and the appointment of the ambassador to Australia have been largely identified," but added, "The process of confirming these through actual statements from the parties involved takes a long time."
He continued, "We need to confirm how the ministers and related parties above them received and instructed these reports," adding, "Investigations on ministers or vice ministers have not yet been conducted." The special prosecutor emphasized the need to investigate Cho Tae-yeol, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Park Sung-jae, former Minister of Justice, who were subjects of search and seizure related to the appointment of Lee Jong-seop, former Minister of National Defense, as ambassador to Australia, although the timing is still under discussion.
Furthermore, the special prosecutor team explained that the allegations of concealment, suppression, and appeasement related to the death of Marine Chae and the external pressure on the High-ranking Officials Crime Investigation Department (Gongsoocheo) are still in the early stages of investigation, requiring a full-scale investigation.
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor team summoned Yoo Jae-eun, former legal director of the Ministry of National Defense, a key figure in the 'external pressure on the investigation,' for the third time today. Assistant Special Prosecutor Jeong said, "It is expected that investigations related to the instructions of former Minister Lee Jong-seop and the discussions at the ministerial meetings on July 31, 2023, will be conducted."
Former Director Yoo underwent intensive investigations for about 12 hours each on the 18th and 19th. He is suspected of receiving instructions to withhold the transfer of investigation records related to the death of Marine Chae and to reduce charges at a meeting presided over by former Minister Lee on July 31, 2023. He is also suspected of making several phone calls to Park Jung-hoon, head of the Marine Corps Investigation Team (Colonel), to exert external pressure and being involved in the process of the Ministry of National Defense's Prosecutor's Office retrieving investigation records transferred to the police by the Marine Corps Investigation Team.
 



scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter