Prosecution, Court Clash Over Arresting Diploma Falsifier
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
The prosecution Wednesday criticized a court for rejecting its arrest warrant for alleged degree fabricator Shin Jeong-ah and said it will seek a warrant again this week.
A prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office said that it would summon Shin again to investigate other charges against the 35-year-old former Dongguk University assistant professor.
The prosecution called the court rejection an ``irresponsible move'' that would impede its investigation.
According to the prosecution, Shin allegedly used fabricated degrees from the University of Kansas and a Ph.D. from Yale University to become an assistant professor of Dongguk and a director for the 2008 Gwangju Biennale.
It is suspected that former presidential policy planner Byeon Yang-kyoon, her long-time patron, exercised his influence to get Shin employed.
A judge said Tuesday she is unlikely to flee or destroy evidence as prosecutors have already secured enough information. He also said the prosecution just listed suspicions about Shin in the warrant request without any detailed clarification.
High-ranking prosecutors had an emergency meeting Tuesday to discuss the issue. They said ``the court's decision ignored the public demand to verify the truth, and was an irresponsible measure giving up judicial responsibility.''
Political parties also denounced the rejection. The main opposition Grand National Party Chairman Kang Jae-sup said: ``The Roh Moo-hyun administration is seeking to cover up corruption involving its officials but such corruption will be finally be brought to light.''
GNP floor leader Ahn Sang-soo added: ``It is a decision out of tune with people's common sense. The prosecution should request the warrant again and the court should issue it, or the people will have suspicions about the court.''
The rejection has made the investigation of the allegations more difficult. However, the prosecution has also become the target of criticism for its belated and sloppy investigation.
Dongguk University filed a complaint against Shin for forging diplomas and interfering in the conduct of its duty on July 23, but her home and office weren't raided until Sept. 4, more than 40 days later.
Through the raid, they found e-mails showing her close relationship with Byeon and his alleged patronage of her. Critics say prosecutors could have expanded the probe into Byeon's suspected influence peddling much earlier if they had actively investigated the case from the start.