Special Prosecutor Team: 'Further Investigation Possible for Park Sung-jae... Ongoing Probe into Related Allegations'

The Special Prosecutor Team for Insurrection and Treason, led by Cho Eun-seok, announced on the 17th that there is room for further investigation into former Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae, whose arrest warrant was dismissed twice. The team stated, 'We will make a final decision after conducting additional investigations into related matters.'
At a regular briefing held that afternoon at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, Deputy Special Prosecutor Park Ji-young explained, 'It is not a situation where an indictment can be immediately filed. Depending on the degree of evidence obtained from additional investigations, we will review the decision regarding detention or indictment at that time.'
The Special Prosecutor Team twice requested arrest warrants for Park Sung-jae last month on the 9th and this month on the 11th, on charges including participation in key insurrection-related duties. However, the court dismissed both requests, citing 'disputes over the recognition of illegality' and 'room for contesting the charges.'
Regarding suspicions that politicians checked detention spaces during the December 3 Martial Law, the team also stated it would soon decide whether to indict former Commissioner of the Korea Correctional Service Shin Yong-hae, who has been questioned three times.
Deputy Special Prosecutor Park Ji-young noted, 'It does not seem to be a matter that must be handled simultaneously, but when a decision is made regarding former Minister Park, a decision on former Commissioner Shin will likely be made as well.' Park added, 'Both cases will be reviewed together, and it is expected that decisions will be made at the same time.'
Regarding the additional investigation of former Prosecutor General of South Korea Sim Woo-jung, who was questioned once over allegations of receiving instructions from former Minister Park to dispatch prosecutors to the Joint Investigation Headquarters, Deputy Special Prosecutor Park stated, 'This matter requires further review, and there are facts that still need to be established.' Park emphasized, 'At this stage, there are no plans to summon former Prosecutor General Sim immediately.'
Deputy Special Prosecutor Park also added, 'At this stage, aside from those already publicly identified, there are no additional individuals who have been booked.'
kyu0705@fnnews.com Kim Dong-gyu Reporter