Ruling party councilor's minor sex offense case sparks accusations of prosecutorial obstruction

A serious investigation into Choi Young-joong, a city councilor from the People Power Party in Cheongju, South Korea, has taken a controversial turn, with prosecutors accused of obstructing police efforts. Choi is being investigated for allegedly engaging in sexual exploitation of a minor, including repeated intercourse with a 12-year-old middle school student and demanding nude photos.

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The prosecution rejected the police's request for a communication records warrant, stating it was for a separate case.

According to Democratic Party lawmakers, including National Assembly member Seo Young-kyo, the prosecution has repeatedly rejected or delayed key warrants requested by the police. These include an arrest warrant, a communication records warrant, and a search and seizure warrant. Seo Young-kyo has raised suspicions about the relationship between the prosecutors involved and Choi Young-joong.

The prosecution claims the delays were due to procedural reasons, such as the need for more specific details in the warrant applications. However, lawmakers like Kim Seung-won, a Democratic Party whip, argue that these reasons are flimsy and appear to be deliberate attempts to stall the investigation. For instance, the rejection of a search warrant for the councilor's office is seen as particularly suspicious, as evidence might be expected there.

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The prosecution's logic implies that we cannot examine Choi Young-joong's communication records. If it's not a separate case, the crime period must be the same, but everything is over a year old.

Further complicating matters, the prosecution initially claimed that a requested communication warrant was for a "separate case" (별건 수사) and thus rejected, as the alleged crime occurred within the past year and the requested records extended beyond that period. However, this logic is questioned, as the nature of the alleged crime, involving chat app communications and potential recruitment of other victims, suggests a strong possibility of ongoing or related offenses. Police investigators reportedly found the prosecution's reasoning for rejecting the warrant highly unusual.

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If the prosecutor's office truly believed a search of the city councilor's office was necessary, they could have simply called the police and asked them to add it. Instead, they just rejected it.

Adding to the controversy, the prosecution's explanation for rejecting the arrest warrant has also shifted. Initially, it was suggested that only the suspect's potential for self-harm was documented. However, later statements indicated that grounds like the seriousness of the crime, risk of evidence destruction, and recidivism were also included. This inconsistency has fueled accusations that the prosecution is attempting to shield the councilor, drawing comparisons to the "Prosecutor Jang Yoon-gi case," a past scandal involving alleged prosecutorial misconduct.

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Initially, they claimed the arrest warrant was rejected due to concerns about the suspect's self-harm. But later, it was revealed that grounds like the seriousness of the crime, risk of evidence destruction, and recidivism were included.