By Kang Hyun-kyung
The head of the National Police Agency (NPA) said Tuesday that police will ask the prosecution to indict Kim Hak-eui, former vice justice minister, on charges of sexual assaults.
NPA Commissioner Lee Sung-han said the police failed to find evidence supporting that Kim was involved in illicit activities other than sexual assaults.
“Initially, we left doors open to all possibilities, including Kim’s alleged involvement in bribery. But it turned out that proving such an allegation was very difficult as the timing of the probe came too late,” Lee told reporters.
Lee said police will refer the former justice minister to the prosecution, who is suspected of having raped several women at a villa owned by a builder surnamed Yoon in Wonju, Gangwon Province. He reportedly had sex with several women who were forced to take an aphrodisiac against their will. Yoon allegedly arranged the sexual services in return for influence peddling from the former justice minister.
Earlier, police sought an arrest warrant for Kim to investigate the case. But the prosecution sent it back to police, asking for more solid evidence for the need for the warrant.
Asked why police decided not to seek the warrant again, Lee said it could be seen as conflict between police and the prosecution.
“I understand that our investigators sent the request to the prosecution after checking every detail thoroughly. If we try to send it again to the prosecution, I’m afraid that this could be seen as an act to pressure the prosecution and therefore one could believe that there’s conflict between the two entities.”