The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's investigation review committee has directed police to close within one month a case involving various allegations of misconduct against independent lawmaker Kim Byung-kee, an inquiry that has dragged on for about a year.
The committee held a regular meeting on the 25th and reviewed two items related to Kim. "We direct that this case be handled promptly within one month," the committee said. "If an extension of the processing deadline is unavoidable, we recommend that police explain the specific grounds, specify a deadline and request an extension from the committee."
The investigation review system allows people involved in a case to petition police for a reexamination when they believe the appropriateness or legality of an internal inquiry or investigation, or its outcome, has been compromised. Police are not strictly bound to follow the committee's directives, but they find it difficult to refuse without particular cause.
The review was requested by the Citizens' Committee for People's Livelihood Measures, a civic group that had earlier filed a complaint against Kim. A former aide who filed a criminal complaint against the lawmaker also submitted a petition for review.
Thirteen allegations against Kim — including influence-peddling over his second son's university transfer and employment, receiving money in exchange for a party nomination and misuse of a corporate credit card by his spouse — are being investigated by the public crimes investigation unit of the Seoul police agency's metropolitan investigation bureau. Police have recently wrapped up most of the investigation and are weighing whether to refer the case to prosecutors, according to sources. No additional questioning has taken place since a seventh session with Kim on April 10, however, and for more than four months there has been no decision on custody or on referral.
Park Jung-bo, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said at a regular news briefing the previous day that "most of the necessary investigation has been completed, and we are carrying out the procedures needed to close it."
