‘LH suspicion’ investigation 20 days passed, but no results… There is also a concern about the’blind-tang investigation’ due to lack of experience

Input 2021.03.22 11:42

Twenty days have passed since allegations of speculation by employees of the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) have been raised, but the results of the investigation have yet to be convinced by the public. As concerns over the lack of experience of the police, who first led the suspected real estate speculation case after the adjustment of the prosecutor’s right, is growing, there are even talks about whether it ends with a’blind pit investigation’.

On the 22nd, the police went into a seizure and search of the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) in the Jeonbuk region. The seizure and search of LH in the Jeonbuk region took place 20 days after the suspicion was raised. Because of this, there are many stories that sufficient destruction of evidence was possible.

The first seizure and search by the police in relation to this case took place on the 9th. On this day, the police entered into the execution of warrants for seizure and search for three places, including LH headquarters, Gwacheon Uiwang business headquarters in Gyeonggi Province, and Gwangmyeong Siheung business headquarters in Incheon, as well as the residences of 13 suspects. After the first seizure and search by the police, criticism poured out that it was a delayed response, saying, “It has been a week for the people involved to destroy the evidence.” The seizure and search of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which is the LH supervisory agency, was also conducted 8 days after the seizure and search of LH headquarters was conducted on the 17th and received the same criticism.

Even afterwards, the speed of investigation by the police was still’turtle walk’. The police summons investigation was also conducted for the first time 17 days after the suspicion arose. On the 19th, the police summoned a plurality of employees including Mr. Kang Mo (57), an employee of the LH Gyeonggi Regional Headquarters, known as’CEO Kang’ to conduct an investigation. The police explained that the exact number of subpoenas could not be disclosed.

There are many stories that the public’s distrust of the investigation has grown like a snowball while the police are scrambling over the investigation of the LH case. Public opinion spread that the case should have been entrusted to the prosecutors (special prosecutors) with extensive investigation experience. As the criticism of public opinion grew, President Moon Jae-in directly requested that the prosecution and the police cooperate, but as a result, it is known that only one prosecutor was dispatched to the noodle copy.

There is a request from public opinion that the investigation of allegations of speculation should be expanded not only to LH staff, but also to lawmakers and high-ranking government officials, but there are criticisms that the police are not responding properly. Currently, it is known that the police are not conducting compulsory investigations against the Blue House officials, members of the National Assembly, and officials in high-ranking government positions. For this reason, there is no criticism that the noodle version, equipped with an investigation organization with the full support of the government, is passive in the investigation of high ranking positions in the ruling party. Currently, a total of 770 investigators are participating in the government joint special investigation headquarters (joint edition), which is composed mainly of the noodle version.

If the police, who were given the authority to command the investigation after the adjustment of the prosecutor’s office, were relying on the prosecution for the first time in the test stand, the adjustment of the investigative authority could be incapacitated, and the police are trying to lead the investigation on their own. Nam Gu-jun, head of the noodle headquarters, also said on the 18th, “I am convinced that the noodle version is more suitable for this investigation than a special prosecution.”

There is still no agreement on the introduction of a special prosecution between the opposition parties, and even if a special prosecution is decided, it takes at least a month to pass, appoint, and organize the law, so there are many stories that the investigation of this case depends entirely on the capabilities of the police. Some say that the police are in charge of the investigation until the by-election of the mayors of Seoul and Busan scheduled for the 7th of next month, so it is unlikely that the results of the investigation will be unfavorable to the ruling party.

An attorney who requested anonymity said, “Even if you remove documents or files from your computer, you can restore them through digital forensics (evidence analysis), but even if you destroy the hard disk, it is difficult.” It is to secure evidence to prove the allegations through seizure and search and subpoena, and there is no need to waste time collating the’real name and land owner’ of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and LH staff.”

He added, “If the prosecution’s prosecution’s investigative techniques are actively used to find the borrowed-name account quickly, all evidence will be destroyed and it will be difficult to prove the allegation.”