<Anchor> A
public interest
reporter
who first raised suspicions that there was an illegality in the process of former Vice Minister Kim Hak-eui's departure ban revealed his current feelings in an interview with us. Although many people have been brought to trial in this case, he said that he has come forward to the reality that no one is making an apology.
Correspondent Won Jong-jin.
<Reporter> A
public interest reporter who claimed that he could not properly investigate under external pressure after discovering charges of illegal inspections and departure bans against former Vice Minister Kim Hak-eui last year.
Despite his status that should be protected, Jang Jun-hee, the chief of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office for Economic Crimes Investigation Division, accepted an interview with SBS.
[Jang Jun-hee / Incheon District Prosecutor General's Prosecutor: I know that no one has ever made a sincere apology for the public confusion caused by this case. I apologize to the people for not being able to defeat external pressure and proceed with the investigation until the end... .]
Chief Prosecutor Jang confessed that at first, there was a request to investigate someone who gave Kim Kim information about the departure ban, but then he confessed that he was found guilty of illegal inspection and illegal withdrawal of Kim.
[Jang Jun-hee / Incheon District Prosecutor General's Prosecutor: Actually, the shock I received at first was great. The incumbent prosecutor made a false official document and illegally banned civilians from leaving the country (on the charges.)]
However, the investigation was not easy.
They blamed external pressure from the Ministry of Justice and the Great Prosecutor's Office.
[Jang Jun-hee / Incheon District Prosecutor General's Prosecutor: We also accept that it is a legitimate command to ask questions about (legal) things or to supplement them. However, isn't 'reporting it unreported' not the intention of 'making this kind of behavior non-existent'?]
On the other hand, Lee Seong-yoon, the chief anti-corruption department of the Supreme Prosecutor's Office, who was handed over to trial, never put pressure on the investigation team or said that it would not be reported. claiming no.
Is it wrong to punish Kim Hak-eui, former vice minister?
He emphasized the principle of due process, saying that anyone should be punished according to the procedure prescribed by the law for such criticisms poured out on himself.
[Jang Jun-hee / Incheon District Prosecutor's Office Chief Prosecutor: No matter how serious a criminal is, in order to punish that person, we must (must) continue to allow such exceptions in accordance with the procedures set by the Constitution and the law, and the damage of the abuse of state power will be reduced. Not only that, but also our family, neighbors and relatives (it can go crazy.)]
(Video coverage: Park Hyun-cheol·Kim Nam-seong, video editing: Hwang Ji-young)