Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Team Extends Im Seong-geun’s Detention Until Next Month 11th... First Indictment Possible

[Financial News] The detention period for Im Seong-geun, a key figure in the death of Chae Sang-byeong, has been extended until the 11th of next month. The Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Team, led by Lee Myeong-hyeon, plans to bring Im to trial within the extended detention period.
At a regular briefing on the 31st, Jeong Min-young, deputy special prosecutor for the Chae Sang-byeong case, stated, “The court has approved the extension of Im’s detention until November 11. He must be indicted within that period.”
Im Seong-geun, who was detained on the 24th, was nearing the end of his initial detention period, but the court granted an extension. This increases the likelihood that the special prosecutor will indict him before his detention expires.
Im is scheduled to be questioned at 2 p.m. regarding allegations of lobbying for rescue efforts. While he made some statements immediately after his detention, he has since refused to testify on charges of occupational negligence resulting in death and disobeying orders, following the appointment of former Ministry of Government Legislation chief Wankyu Lee as his attorney.
He has indicated that he will contest the charges in court, and it remains unclear whether he will testify regarding the lobbying allegations.
The special prosecutor does not plan to request additional warrants for suspects accused of exerting investigative pressure whose previous warrants were denied.
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor will summon Kim Yong-won, standing commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), for questioning as a suspect this afternoon. Kim is accused of abuse of authority during the process of rejecting an emergency relief request and petition filed with the NHRCK by Park Jung-hoon, head of the Marine Corps Criminal Investigation Division (Colonel).
On the 1st of next month, the special prosecutor plans to summon Oh Dong-woon, head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), who is suspected of dereliction of duty, and Lee Jong-ho, former CEO of Black Pearl Invest, who is implicated in lobbying allegations. On the 2nd, Kim Sun-kyu, former deputy chief prosecutor of the CIO, will be summoned for allegedly obstructing the CIO investigation.

scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter