Prosecutor Park Sang-yong of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office appeared before the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's disciplinary committee to address allegations of testimony coercion related to the 'salmon party' incident. He stated, "I provided a thorough explanation regarding the inaccuracies."
The disciplinary committee convened on the afternoon of May 11 to deliberate on potential disciplinary actions against Park.
The allegations under review include: the importation of alcohol into the investigation room, a recorded phone conversation disclosed by attorney Seo Min-seok, repeated summons, incomplete documentation, and consumption of outside food.
According to Yonhap News, Park requested the opportunity to explain himself and waited for about three hours in the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's reception area before being allowed to present his case around 5 p.m.
After concluding his explanation at approximately 6:17 p.m., he remarked, "I provided a thorough explanation regarding the inaccuracies. I feel grateful to the committee members for giving me this opportunity, and I believe I should repay this kindness by living faithfully, regardless of the conclusion they reach."
Earlier, Park had expressed to reporters, "I have not been informed at all about the nature or number of the allegations against me. I wish to have the opportunity to explain myself to the external committee members as if I were knocking on the door of a public complaint office."
He added, "Even regarding the salmon party, the correctional officers nearby were unaware of it, and if such an event did not occur, how could it be considered true? It is unprecedented in the history of the prosecution to impose disciplinary action based on the results of a lie detector test, which lacks evidentiary value, and it does not align with legal principles or reality."
Park also stated, "If a disciplinary decision is ultimately made and I cannot accept it, I plan to file a lawsuit for cancellation."
Park is under scrutiny for allegedly attempting to extract testimony from suspects, including former Gyeonggi Province Peace Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young and former Ssangbangwool Chairman Kim Seong-tae, by providing them with salmon and alcohol during the investigation into the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case on May 17, 2023.
The Seoul High Prosecutors' Office's Human Rights Violation Task Force, which has been investigating the allegations, concluded that a drinking event did occur and reported this to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
During a National Assembly investigation, Kim denied drinking alcohol, while a former Ssangbangwool director, identified as Park, claimed he purchased alcohol for personal consumption and drank it in his car.
However, it has been reported that evidence, including corporate credit card records showing the purchase of soju at a nearby convenience store and the lie detector test results indicating truthful responses from Lee, were used as grounds for the allegations.
The disciplinary committee's decision regarding Park's potential punishment will be advisory, and the Prosecutor General is not obligated to follow it. Nonetheless, the Prosecutor General has typically respected the committee's recommendations in determining disciplinary measures.
Disciplinary actions against prosecutors can range from reprimands to suspension, dismissal, or removal from office, with the execution of penalties, excluding the mildest reprimand, requiring the Minister of Justice's recommendation and the President's approval.
If a judge or prosecutor is dismissed as a disciplinary measure, they cannot practice law for three years.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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