Prosecution Watchdog Probes Lee Jae-myung Cases Amid Withdrawal Concerns

A special committee within the Ministry of Justice is expanding its investigation into alleged prosecutorial misconduct, with the total number of cases under review reaching 19. The "Future Committee for Respecting Prosecutorial Rights and Human Rights" has added 12 cases, including those related to Seongnam FC and the alleged misuse of Gyeonggi Province's corporate credit card, to its initial seven. Seven of these cases directly involve President Lee Jae-myung, and crucially, all six where a first-instance verdict has not yet been delivered are included in the investigation.

This expansion comes as the Democratic Party pushes for a special prosecutor law that would grant the power to withdraw charges. The committee's findings are seen by critics as potentially laying the groundwork to justify such withdrawals in cases involving President Lee. The committee plans to review the findings of an internal fact-finding team and then submit recommendations to the Minister of Justice.

The inclusion of cases still in their first trial, where prosecutors can legally withdraw charges before a verdict, has raised concerns among legal professionals. One lawyer expressed worries about a "structure of irresponsibility," where the fact-finding team, the committee, and the Minister of Justice could all cite each other's findings, blurring accountability if charges are withdrawn. There are also concerns that the committee's pre-verdict conclusions about the appropriateness of indictments could interfere with the fair judicial process, as such judgments are typically reserved for the court.

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The fact-finding team, the committee, and the Ministry of Justice could all cite each other's findings, blurring accountability if charges are withdrawn.

President Lee's cases under review include the Daejang-dong development scandal, the Wirye New Town development, and the alleged illegal transfer of funds to North Korea by the Ssangbangul Group. New additions include the Seongnam FC case, the Baekhyeon-dong development case, and the alleged misuse of the Gyeonggi provincial government's corporate credit card. The investigation also encompasses a perjury case linked to the trial of former Democratic Party official Kim Yong, and a case involving the former son-in-law of former President Moon Jae-in, who is accused of arranging employment for him at Eastar Jet.

The committee's actions are drawing scrutiny as they coincide with political efforts to potentially nullify ongoing legal proceedings against President Lee, raising questions about the separation of powers and the integrity of the justice system.

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The committee's conclusions outside the courtroom that 'the indictment was wrong' before the first trial verdict can disrupt fair trials.