CIO launches investigation on former prosecutor general’s alleged abuse of power

Posted on : 2021-06-11 16:37 KST Modified on : 2021-06-11 16:37 KST
The CIO is looking into allegations that former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl failed to adequately investigate cases involving Optimus Asset Management and former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook
Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl (Hankyoreh photo archives)
Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl (Hankyoreh photo archives)

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) has launched investigations of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl.

An investigation by the Hankyoreh on Thursday found that the CIO had booked Yoon on June 4 and begun investigating him on charges including abuse of authority to obstruct the exercising of rights.

In February, the group Citizens’ Action for Restoring Judicial Justice submitted a complaint to the CIO accusing Yoon and two other prosecutors of abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights, citing allegations that they failed to adequately investigate a case involving fraud by Optimus Asset Management in May 2019.

In March, it submitted another complaint to the CIO accusing Yoon and then-Supreme Prosecutors’ Office (SPO) assistant prosecutor general Cho Nam-gwan of the same charges for allegedly obstructing the investigation and indictment of prosecutors suspected of conspiracy to incite false testimony in a bribery case involving former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook.

In a telephone interview with the Hankyoreh on Thursday, Citizens’ Action representative Kim Han-me said, “We received notification from the CIO that the abuse of authority accusation against Yoon for the inadequate investigation of the Optimus case had been designated as case No. 7, while the abuse of authority accusation against Yoon for obstructing investigation and indictment in connection with the conspiracy to incite false testimony against former Prime Minister Han was designated as case No. 8.”

An official with the CIO said they could not confirm when asked whether the office had begun its investigation of Yoon.

The above cases are not the only accusations that Citizens’ Action has submitted to the CIO concerning alleged abuse of authority by Yoon.

Kim Han-me submitted Monday a complaint against Yoon and five other prosecutors over the drafting of reports by the SPO during Yoon’s period as prosecutor general, which concerned the rulings, Society for Research on Our Law membership, and even hobbies of judges involved in major cases – including one involving former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk.

In April, he submitted another complaint to the CIO accusing Yoon of the same charge in connection with a case involving college entrance examination improprieties by Cho and his wife, Dongyang University professor Chung Kyung-shim.

By Jeon Gwang-joon, staff reporter

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