Prosecutor General Cho Nam-gwan (Deputy Prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office) is on the morning of the 18th to go to work at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Newsis
Nam-gwan Cho (deputy prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office) held a meeting of the chief prosecutor (at the level of the prosecutor’s office) on the 19th, and decided whether to prosecute Kim Mo, a prisoner who was designated as a “perjury offender” in relation to the suspicion of former Prime Minister Han Myung-sook of the prosecution investigation team. . It is a measure in accordance with the investigation and command of Justice Minister Park Beom-gye, saying, “Through a meeting of the prosecutor’s chief of prosecutors Han Dong-soo and prosecutor Lim Eun-jung, the prosecution of the prosecution should be reviewed.
Acting President Cho only increased the number of attendees at the meeting, saying, “We will also involve the front-line high prosecutors in order to ensure fairness.” It is interpreted as an attempt to block controversy over the outcome of the meeting and the final conclusion by accepting the command of Minister Park, but by attracting personnel who will play the role of ‘friend’.
“I accept the command, but I will not follow it.”
Acting President Cho issued a position on the investigation and command of the minister in relation to the case of former Prime Minister Han Myung-sook on the 18th, and said, “We will humbly accept the Minister’s point on the investigation and command, and promptly hold a meeting of the chief prosecutors for reconsideration.” He added, “We will listen to the explanations and opinions of the matter from the investigative and record review officials, such as (Dong-su Han) and Researcher Eun-jung Lim, and undergo sufficient discussion.” It took the shape of following Minister Park’s command the day before. Acting President Cho nailed the meeting schedule to 19th, taking into account the expiration of the statute of limitations of the inmate Kim on March 22.
At the same time, Acting General Cho said, “There is a concern from inside and outside the prosecution that it is not enough to ensure fairness by meetings of all the chief prosecutors who work for the great prosecutor.” Announced. As a council for reconsideration by the Minister, Kok Jib did not accept the’Swordsman Chiefs’ Meeting, but added a variation of ‘6 additional high swordsmen attended’.
Inside and outside the prosecution, the prevailing view of this as an expression of dissatisfaction with Minister Park’s investigation and command is dominant. On the 5th, when the Supreme Swordsman allegedly closed the alleged perjury case, the final responsible person was none other than Acting General Cho. In a situation where he regarded himself as’a decision made with the best efforts to make a neutral judgment’, Secretary Park mentioned’fairness’ and expressed a protest that it was unfair to deny it.
In fact, Acting President Cho emphasized in his position, “Under my responsibility, it was finalized as’no suspicion’, and the final decision was made through the’Six Great Sword Researchers’ Meeting, which consists of senior researchers from each department of the Great Sword.” In addition, he said, “The great swordsman did its best to ensure fairness and investigate the substantive truth according to the guidelines for rational decision-making.” “I gave (prosecutor Lim) an opportunity to express opinions, but refused to attend,” he refuted, pointing out that Park was excluded from the decision process by Prosecutor Im Eun-jung.
Cho Nam-gwan’s choice in a dilemma?
Even strategically, there are many evaluations that the’high prosecutor’s attendance card’ is a trick. According to the interpretation of the legal profession, who expressed that “the moment the Ministry of Justice explained that’the purpose of acting President Cho should make a good decision’, all responsibility falls on behalf of President Cho.” The odds are great. As a consultative body for reconsideration, it is highly likely that the Minister Park attempted to guide the meeting of the Vice Presidents of the Great Swords into a’decision on prosecution opinions’. Considering the pro-government vice-president, such as prosecutors’ police chief Han Dong-soo, criminal chief Lee Jong-geun, and public investigation chief Lee Jeong-hyun, there is no small possibility that majority opinions will gather in the direction of ‘prosecution.’
As for Cho, the situation is bound to be embarrassing. Following the conclusion of the meeting, it was an instant denial of the previous group decision of the great swordsman, and as the final decision maker, even his own judgment was reversed, leaving a big scar in leadership. The obviously anticipated internal opposition by the prosecution cannot be ignored.
Possibility not to bend over innocence
Of course, as the decision of the Chief Swordsman’s Association is not binding, it is not impossible for Acting President Cho to conclude the opposite conclusion. In November of last year, former Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, who took the exclusion from former prosecutor general Yoon Seok-yeol, rebelled against “just one step back”, and in the prosecution’s personnel process last month, he said to the Ministry of Justice, “Stop the tweezers personnel,” this time. There are also many observations predicting that they will make a’Soshin’ move. However, in this case, it is a variable that it becomes an atmosphere that confronts not only Park but also the regime. The decline in his position as a leading candidate for the next prosecutor-general could also influence his choice.
In the end, the fact that Acting General Cho has joined 6 high sword chiefs as members of the Great Sword Vice President’s Association is evaluated as “a number of gods” that came out after hard consideration. A prosecutor of the Metropolitan Prosecutor’s Office predicted that “As President Cho, acting on behalf of President Cho, he will hope that the existing decision will remain the same, so as the chairman of the meeting, he will take the form of largely accepting the opinions of the high prosecutors.” It means that it has a justification and appearance that does not have to overturn the’end of innocence’.
Nam Sang-wook reporter [email protected]
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