'Nomination Involvement Suspicion' Former Prosecutor Kim Sang-min Appears at Special Investigation... "Based on Misunderstanding and Speculation"

[Financial News] Former Chief Prosecutor Kim Sang-min, who is under suspicion of 'nomination involvement of Myung Tae-kyun', appeared before the special investigation team led by Special Prosecutor Kim Geon-hee (Min Jung-gi Special Investigation).
Former Prosecutor Kim appeared at the Kim Geon-hee special investigation office located in KT Gwanghwamun Building West, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 9th. He was summoned as a suspect for violating the Political Funds Act.
Before appearing, Former Prosecutor Kim met with reporters and responded to the question of whether he delivered Lee Woo-hwan's painting 'From the Dot' to the family of Mrs. Kim Geon-hee, saying, "The part that needs to be most cautious during an investigation is the error of confirmation bias," and "Many of the investigation-related information being leaked through the special investigation seems to be based on many misunderstandings and speculations. I will explain those parts in detail and come out."
However, Former Prosecutor Kim did not answer questions such as 'Was the painting handed over in the name of nomination solicitation?' or 'Did Mrs. Kim intervene in the appointment of the National Intelligence Service special advisor?' and entered the office.
Former Prosecutor Kim was pointed out as the person Mrs. Kim Geon-hee tried to nominate for a parliamentary seat ahead of last year's general election. The main point of suspicion is that Mrs. Kim intervened to have Former Prosecutor Kim run in the constituency of former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun in Changwon, Gyeongnam.
Mr. Myung Tae-kyun claims that Mrs. Kim instructed to support Former Prosecutor Kim, who suffered from the investigation of Cho Kuk, to be elected in the constituency, and said that after the election, he would be given a position as a minister or a public corporation president. However, Former Prosecutor Kim was cut off in the party primary and moved to the position of legal advisor at the National Intelligence Service in August last year. The special investigation team is looking into whether specific influence was involved in the nomination and public office appointment process.
To investigate the allegations, the special investigation team searched Former Prosecutor Kim's residence on July 8 and forcibly investigated the National Intelligence Service on the 18th of the same month. The day before, they also searched Former Prosecutor Kim's residence in the provinces.
The special investigation team plans to intensively probe Former Prosecutor Kim regarding the 'nomination involvement suspicion of Myung Tae-kyun'. The special investigation team suspects that the source of Lee Woo-hwan's painting 'From the Dot No.800298', found at the home of Mrs. Kim's brother-in-law Kim Jin-woo's mother-in-law, is Former Prosecutor Kim, and plans to investigate whether the nomination was demanded in exchange for the painting. Former Prosecutor Kim claims he acted as an agent for purchase after receiving money, but Mrs. Kim's side reportedly testified, "I wouldn't have bought such a painting."


theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter