Prosecutors said: “The investigation was scheduled for 2pm, but he didn’t show up.” The defense lawyers said, “We need to meet and ask why.” Lawyer Seon Jong-moon is supposed to meet Song Young-gil.
Former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil, at the center of suspicion of having “distributed envelopes of cash at the National Convention of the Korean Democratic Party,” has failed to comply with the first prosecution investigation since his arrest.
According to the legal community, on the 20th, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Department 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office (Chief Prosecutor Choi Jae-hoon) was unable to proceed with the investigation due to the non-compliance of the former CEO Song, who was detained and imprisoned.
A prosecutor’s office official said: “Former CEO Song was supposed to be interrogated starting at 2pm today, but he failed to show up.”
The reason for former CEO Song’s refusal to investigate was not revealed.
Lawyer Song Young-cheon, former CEO Song’s older brother, said: “It seems that (the investigation) probably will not take place today” and added: “I think I will only find out when I meet former CEO Song and ask him (the reason for refusing the investigation).”
Former Representative Song’s lawyer, Seon Jong-moon, plans to meet with former Representative Song around 3:30 pm to inquire about the reason for his absence and discuss future response plans.
Even if the suspect is detained and incarcerated, an arrest warrant is required to begin an investigation.
Meanwhile, the prosecution has banned the arrested former CEO Song from meeting anyone other than his lawyer until the trial. The prosecution’s position is that this is normal procedure for suspects who run the risk of destroying evidence.
The prosecution took the same measure against previously arrested independent lawmaker Yoon Kwan-seok, Kang Rae-gu, a former auditor of the Korea Water Resources Corporation, and former aide Park Yong-soo.
However, when Nam Young-shin, wife of former MP Song, was banned from meeting the previous day, she protested, saying, “Even during Chun Doo-hwan’s dictatorship, it was possible to visit family members, so what does this mean?”
A day earlier, he posted a statement on YouTube’s Song Yeol-gil TV, saying, “I received a call from the detention center and banned all contact with family members and acquaintances other than lawyers until the prosecution charges me.” she added, “You can’t bring books and you can’t send letters.”
Former Congressman Song is accused of conspiring with former Auditor Kang, former Democratic Party Deputy Secretary General Lee Jeong-geun, and former Aide Park to provide 20 envelopes of money (for a total of 60 million won) to be distributed to the National Assembly members to Rep. Yoon on April 27-28, 2021.
He is also suspected of conspiring with former Auditor Kang and former Vice President Lee to provide a total of 6.5 million won to heads of regional headquarters in the name of business expenses on two occasions, on March 31 and on April 11 of the same year.
In connection with the money envelope, there is also an allegation of collusion in receiving 10 million won in campaign funds to be provided to heads of regional headquarters in the field of primary elections on March 30 of the same year by Congressman Lee Seong- man, who was a member of the Democratic Party at the time, and 50 million won in illegal political funds from Mr. Kim.
Furthermore, there is an allegation of receiving illegal political funds amounting to 763 million won through the Peace, Food and Life Research Institute, which was designated as a peripheral organization for two years starting January 2020. The accusation suspects that the 40 million won was a bribe in the name of soliciting civil complaints.
On the 13th, the prosecution requested an arrest warrant for former CEO Song.
Chief Judge Yoo Chang-hoon of the Seoul Central District Court, in charge of the warrants, issued an arrest warrant for former CEO Song around midnight on the 18th.
Chief Judge Yoo explained the reason for issuing the warrant, saying: “The case is serious, as it has been proven that the suspect received a large amount of illegal political funds and was partially involved in receiving bribes related to the primaries of party leadership”.
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