Police on the 7th sought a pre-trial arrest warrant for independent lawmaker Kim Byung-kee, who faces a range of allegations including soliciting a university transfer and a job for his second son and turning a blind eye to the receipt of money in exchange for a party nomination. The move to take him into custody comes about a year after police opened an investigation into the allegations in September last year.
The Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Metropolitan Investigation Bureau said it applied to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office that day for a pre-trial arrest warrant for Kim on charges including bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and obstruction of business. Police said they "took into account that the allegations are supported by objective evidence and that there is a risk of evidence destruction."
The warrant request cites allegations that Kim knew of and overlooked the receipt of 100 million won in nomination money by independent lawmaker Kang Sun-woo, as well as allegations that he received donations from Silla Leisure and hotel accommodation vouchers from Korean Air, and misused operating expenses at the Dongjak District Council.
Kim is also accused of promising preferential legislative activity to Soongsil University and railway rolling stock parts maker Jinwoo Sanjeon, among others, and in return soliciting a university transfer and employment for his second son. Police are said to have focused on whether there was a quid pro quo between Kim's legislative activity and the favors provided to his family.
Police opened the investigation in September last year after a complaint by a civic group and have looked into a total of 13 allegations, including suspicions that an inquiry into his spouse's misuse of a corporate card was quashed, the receipt of money and valuables, the receipt of political donations under borrowed names, and claims that he had an aide assist the work of his eldest son, who serves at the National Intelligence Service.
But as the investigation dragged on for nearly a year, critics inside and outside the police called it a "foot-dragging investigation." They said that despite a series of complaints and disclosures related to the case, compulsory investigative steps such as taking the suspect into custody made little progress. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's investigation review committee also reviewed Kim's case on the 25th of last month and recommended that police "handle it promptly within one month."
The arrest warrant sought by police will be filed with the court after prosecutors review whether to request it. If prosecutors request the warrant, the court will hold a pre-detention hearing to decide whether to detain Kim.
