"The suspect disappeared" ... Police officers who took room salon entertainment and made the 'Yang Jung Won case' vanish sent to trial [Full]

[Financial News] Police officers on duty who received entertainment at adult entertainment venues from people linked to famous influencer Yang Jung Won and helped cover up the case have been indicted. Prosecutors said their investigation found that they removed Yang, who had been registered as a suspect, from the investigative net by reclassifying her as a witness and even stripped the victim of the right to file an objection, severely undermining the criminal justice system.
According to the legal community on the 20th, the Financial and Securities Crime Joint Investigation Unit at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, led by Chief Prosecutor Shin Dong-hwan, indicted former Gangnam Police Station investigation team leader, Senior Inspector A, on the same day on charges including bribery, solicitation bribery, abuse of authority, and leaking official secrets. A is accused of colluding with Yang's husband, a stock price manipulation suspect, and others during an investigation into a KOSDAQ-listed company's stock manipulation case, and of receiving about 10 million won in cash and entertainment.
Prosecutors also indicted without detention National Police Agency Superintendent B, who brokered the case for A and received entertainment at adult venues with him, on charges of bribery and solicitation bribery. They also indicted C, a multi-level marketing operator, without detention on charges of bribing A and B with cash and gift certificates worth several million won. A and B have been suspended from duty, but are still reported to retain their status as police officers.
While investigating Yang's case, which involved allegations of fraud in a Pilates franchise business, A received a request from B, who was acquainted with D, Yang's husband and the main figure in the stock price manipulation scheme. As the final approver, A instructed a junior investigator to arbitrarily change Yang's status in the system from suspect to witness, removing her from the scope of the investigation. The victim was even deprived of the legal right to challenge the police's decision not to send the case to prosecutors. Under the current Criminal Procedure Act of the Republic of Korea, a police decision not to indict a suspect can be challenged, but a witness is not a suspect and is not even subject to such a decision. In investigative procedures, changing a suspect to a witness requires clear supporting documents and internal approval. Prosecutors believe A abused his authority and issued improper orders.
According to audio files released by prosecutors, A and B received luxury scarves and other valuables from D in return for burying the case. They were also found to have repeatedly received entertainment at adult venues worth as much as 2 million won per visit. Two days after one such gathering, when another fraud investigation involving Yang became an issue, A reportedly pressured a junior Gangnam Police Station officer in charge of the case, saying, "I already decided not to send this case to prosecutors, so wrap it up quickly." A told B that he had "handled the case well with a decision not to send it to prosecutors," and B relayed the progress to D's side, saying, "A is a senior team leader, so he has influence. It was wrapped up well," while continuing private meetings. Prosecutors also found that A instructed colleagues to coax the victim into withdrawing the complaint so the second case, which he had been asked to handle, could be quickly closed without prosecution. He repeatedly pressured investigators, saying, "I already looked at this case, so finish it quickly with no charges," and the investigation was eventually halted.
A's misconduct did not stop there. Prosecutors found that he also continued to take money and valuables from people involved in various cases, including stock manipulation brokers, wanted fugitives, and multi-level marketing operators, in exchange for helping to suppress investigations and provide information. In particular, when prosecutors began tracing the source of gift certificates he had received from C, he mobilized acquaintances to create a fake scenario claiming that the certificates had been legally purchased at a discount, and even rehearsed false testimony in an active attempt to destroy evidence.
A prosecution official said, "When an active-duty police officer engaged in investigative work colludes with criminals, receives money and entertainment, and covers up cases, it is a serious crime that paralyzes the very function of the criminal justice system, which exists to uncover the truth and protect the public," adding, "We will continue to strictly punish corruption that undermines the criminal justice system."
[email protected] Seo Ji-yoon Reporter