The second comprehensive special prosecutor team, led by Kwon Chang-young, has summoned Han Chang-seob, the former Vice Minister of the Interior and Safety, as part of its investigation into allegations surrounding the relocation of the presidential residence. This move comes a day before the first interrogation of Lee Sang-min, the former Interior Minister, regarding the alleged misappropriation of funds for the residence's construction.
According to legal sources on June 3, the special prosecutor's team began questioning Han at 10 a.m. as a witness.
Han was appointed as the first Vice Minister of the Interior and Safety shortly after the Yoon Suk Yeol administration took office in May 2022 and worked alongside Lee until his retirement in August 2023.
The special prosecutor's team is investigating whether the Interior Ministry's budget was illegally diverted during the construction of the presidential residence. Lee is accused of being involved in the misappropriation of approximately 2.8 billion won to pay the construction company 21Gram for the relocation project.
Additionally, the team is looking into whether Lee retaliated against Interior Ministry officials who opposed the budget diversion. Reports indicate that the special prosecutor's team has obtained statements from ministry officials suggesting that Lee instructed personnel to "send away" those who opposed the budget diversion.
Some officials reportedly expressed their reluctance to accept the budget diversion orders, requesting instead to be reassigned. The special prosecutor's team appears to be confirming the decision-making process behind the budget diversion and the circumstances surrounding personnel actions at that time.
The team plans to interrogate Lee as a suspect on the morning of June 4. In the afternoon of the same day, they will question Kim Dae-ki, the former Chief of Staff to the President, and on the morning of June 5, they will interrogate Yoon Jae-soon, the former Secretary for General Affairs at the Presidential Office.
Both Kim and Yoon are accused of instructing the Interior Ministry to cover the construction costs for the presidential residence, which they were not obligated to do. A court issued arrest warrants for both individuals on May 22, citing concerns over potential evidence destruction.
The special prosecutor's team intends to focus on whether the Presidential Office and the Interior Ministry were involved in the budget diversion to cover construction costs and whether there were any retaliatory actions against opposing officials.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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