Police question complainant over Representative Jang Kyung-tae’s alleged retaliatory intimidation

[The Financial News] Police have launched a full-fledged investigation into allegations that Representative Jang Kyung-tae, who has been accused of quasi-forcible indecent act, asked the complainant’s ex-boyfriend to be subjected to a retaliatory internal inspection.
Around 10 a.m. on the 29th, Seoul Dongdaemun Police Station summoned Lee Jong-bae, a People Power Party (PPP) Seoul Metropolitan Council member who filed a complaint against Representative Jang on charges of retaliatory intimidation under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, and is questioning him as the complainant.
Representative Jang is suspected of having tried to impose personnel disadvantages on Mr. Lee, the ex-boyfriend of the female aide who filed a complaint against him on charges of quasi-forcible indecent act.
Before appearing for questioning, Council member Lee issued a statement calling for stern punishment of Representative Jang. He said, "After the victim filed her complaint, Representative Jang demanded an internal inspection of the victim’s ex-boyfriend and, through his superior, pointed out that the workplace was located in his own constituency," adding, "This is a clear form of pressure and intimidation that evokes the possibility of personnel disadvantages or other adverse measures for the victim’s side."
Meanwhile, when the sexual harassment allegations first emerged, Representative Jang flatly denied the accusations and in turn filed a complaint against the female aide for false accusation, and against Mr. Lee for false accusation, assault, and violations of the Protection of Communications Secrets Act.
The Women and Juvenile Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is investigating the quasi-forcible indecent act allegation along with suspected violations of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes, including the prohibition on disclosing a victim’s identity and private life. Police questioned Representative Jang as a suspect on the 10th.
jyseo@fnnews.com Reporter Seo Ji-yoon Reporter