Prosecution requests arrest warrant for ex-justice minister

By Kang Seung-woo

The prosecution asked a court to issue an arrest warrant for former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, Monday, on charges that while at Cheong Wa Dae he unfairly intervened in a bribery probe involving a former Busan vice mayor.

Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk

The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office said it has requested a warrant to detain Cho over charges of abuse of power and obstruction of official duties.

The request came after prosecutors questioned Cho twice last week, hinting that a warrant request was imminent. Cho was senior presidential secretary for civil affairs before taking the justice minister post.

Seoul Eastern District Court is scheduled to review the prosecution's request on Thursday.

Former Busan Vice Mayor Yoo Jae-soo allegedly took bribes worth 49.5 million won ($42,600) from four financial firms in various forms like golf clubs, flight tickets and gifts in 2017 while serving as director-general of the Financial Services Commission (FSC).

Cheong Wa Dae's special inspection team was apparently investigating corruption allegations involving the vice mayor.

However, the investigation was halted abruptly for unknown reasons, helping Yoo avoid any punishment from the FSC and become vice mayor in 2018. Yoo is in custody on bribery charges.

At the time, Cho was head of the presidential office's civil affairs division that oversaw the special inspection of bribery allegations involving Yoo, raising suspicion that some Cheong Wa Dae officials or ruling bloc figures may have engaged in a cover-up.

After being questioned on Dec. 16, Cho said through his attorneys that “the ultimate political responsibility is on me,” adding that he had faithfully attended the session.

During the questioning, Cho reportedly said the special inspection team's investigation was different from a law enforcement authority's, and it had shown that the bribery allegations against Yoo were minor.

He therefore had decided to close the investigation through discussion with Baek Won-woo, former presidential secretary for civil affairs, and Park Hyeong-chul, presidential secretary for anti-corruption.

However, the prosecution believes he ordered Yoo to resign from the FSC to wrap up the investigation despite serious illegalities, which is seen as an act of abusing power.

In a related move, prosecutors launched a search operation at Cheong Wa Dae earlier this month to obtain evidence about why the Yoo investigation was suddenly ended.

Cho, who also faces separate probes related to alleged financial irregularities and education controversies involving his family, refused to testify at previous inquiries linked to his family.

His wife Chung Kyung-sim, who is at the center of the scandals, was arrested in late October and faces 14 charges related to the allegations.