Ex-top court head's car searched in judicial power abuse scandal

By Kim Rahn

The prosecution searched a car of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae, Sunday, in its probe into the top court's abuse of power allegations.

Investigators from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office searched Yang's vehicle, as well as residences and offices of former Supreme Court justices Ko Young-han, Park Byoung-dae and Cha Han-sung who worked under Yang.

It was the first time a search warrant has been issued for former top court justices since the prosecution started the investigation into the scandal three months ago, although the prosecution's request to search Yang's home was turned down and only that for the vehicle was accepted.

Local courts so far have refused many more search and arrest warrant requests from the prosecution.

Yang and the former justices allegedly orchestrated the Supreme Court and the National Court Administration's (NCA) alleged meddling in trials and surveillance of judges critical of the government, to curry favor with the then-Park Geun-hye administration and lobby for another high court. Ko, Park and Cha were heads of the NCA under Yang.

The three justices allegedly meddled in cases involving a now-defunct progressive party and former Korean forced laborers during the 1910-45 Japanese occupation, and allegedly discussed the cases with then presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon.

Prosecutors suspect Yang is the final commander of such illegal acts. Yang is also suspected of having raised slush funds by illegally collecting budgets from local courts.

The prosecution plans to summon Yang for questioning after finishing looking into materials they have seized in searches.