Special Prosecutor Investigated for Alleged Bias
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is reportedly investigating Park Sang-jin, a former special prosecutor, regarding allegations of biased investigations. Park was summoned for questioning as a reference on May 30th, approximately one month after a previous investigation into his role was reportedly suspended.
Inquiry into Handling of Unification Temple Case
The CIO is examining why the previous special investigation team, led by Park, allegedly excluded certain individuals from its scope of inquiry. This is in relation to allegations that the team received information suggesting that not only individuals associated with the People Power Party but also political figures from the Democratic Party, including former Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Jeon Jae-soo, received funds from the Unification Temple. Reports indicate that the special investigation team did not immediately pursue the investigation into Democratic Party figures, only assigning a case number in November of the previous year. To date, the CIO has only indicted individuals associated with the Democratic Party in this matter.
Previous Investigation Steps and Obstacles
A previous attempt to question Park was scheduled for April 19th, but he did not appear. It is understood that Park cited the public disclosure of the investigation schedule as the reason for his non-attendance. In January, the CIO reportedly seized electronic devices from the special investigation team’s office, obtaining records of phone calls between Min Jung-gi, the then-special prosecutor, and Park. In March, the CIO questioned Chae Hee-man, the former Suwon District Prosecutor, who led the Unification Temple investigation at the time. However, the CIO has not disclosed details regarding Min Jung-gi’s investigation.
CIO’s Caseload and Legal Review
Furthermore, the CIO announced that it has received 56 cases related to alleged judicial misconduct to date. The ‘Judicial Misconduct Act,’ implemented in March, stipulates penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment for judges and prosecutors who abuse their legal authority. There has been debate regarding whether such cases fall under the CIO’s investigative jurisdiction. The CIO has stated that it will determine the direction of case handling after a legal review.
