The second special prosecutor team, led by Kwon Chang-young, is intensifying its investigation as it approaches the conclusion of its activities. On July 2, the team began questioning key figures related to the alleged cover-up of the Deutsche Motors investigation.
Starting in the morning, the special prosecutor's office interrogated former chief prosecutor Choi Jae-hoon and former deputy prosecutor Seo Min-seok regarding their roles in the Deutsche Motors case. They are accused of failing to conduct a thorough investigation into Kim Geon-hee, who was identified as an accomplice, leading to a decision not to prosecute her in 2024.
Specifically, Choi is alleged to have predetermined a conclusion of no charges against Kim before finalizing the decision, modifying reports afterward, and coordinating responses with her in advance. Upon arriving at the special prosecutor's office in Gwacheon, Choi stated, "I will explain everything well" regarding the allegations.
On July 3, the special prosecutor plans to summon Lee Chang-soo, the former chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, as a suspect in connection with the alleged creation of false documents and violations of the Anti-Graft Act related to the Deutsche Motors case.
Former Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Baek Won-guk, implicated in the allegations surrounding the route change of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway, is also undergoing questioning. The allegations suggest that the endpoint of the expressway was changed from Yangseo-myeon in Yangpyeong County to Gangsam-myeon, where Kim Geon-hee's family owns land, after the Yoon Suk Yeol administration took office.
It has been reported that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport began reviewing the endpoint change after a preliminary feasibility study was approved in 2021. Following the emergence of these allegations, former Minister Won Hee-ryong declared the project null and void. The special prosecutor suspects that Baek, who served as the second vice minister, was involved due to his close association with former Minister Won.
The investigation into the alleged cover-up of gambling activities involving the Unification Church is also ongoing. This case centers on claims that police received intelligence about overseas gambling activities involving Unification Church leaders but failed to act, with information allegedly leaking to the church through political channels.
On this day, the special prosecutor conducted a witness interrogation of former Unification Church World Headquarters leader Yoon Young-ho. The team is expected to inquire about how the intelligence and investigation details were leaked from the police to Representative Kwon Seong-dong of the People Power Party and subsequently to the Unification Church.
As the investigation period is set to expire on July 24, the special prosecutor is anticipated to focus on solidifying charges related to ongoing cases.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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