Chief clarifies remark at national audit
Says comment did not imply criminal conduct
Complainant questioned in probe of Han's child
Hong Seok-gi, head of the Korean National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters, moved Tuesday to walk back a remark about independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon's child donating 50 laptops while in high school, clarifying that calling the act "not common sense" was not meant to suggest it constituted a crime.
Speaking at a regular press briefing at the Korean National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday, Hong said his earlier comment was made "in the context of assessing whether it would ordinarily be reasonable for a high school student to hand over 50 computers," adding, "It was not an answer meant to suggest that, because it was false, it amounts to a criminal act."
On Monday, Hong had told the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee national audit that he did not think it was "common sense" for a first-year high school student to donate 50 laptops, in response to a question from Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Yun Geon-yeong. Tuesday's briefing was his follow-up clarification.
Hong added that "whether there is a problem with that case is not for an individual to judge," and that "since the case had already been closed once, important new evidence would need to be discovered to reopen it. If new facts or evidence emerge, we will decide whether to launch an investigation accordingly."
Police recently reopened an investigation into allegations that Han's child fabricated academic credentials and that the matter was covered up. After receiving a complaint on Oct. 14, police assigned the case to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation Unit on Oct. 19. Investigators were also questioning the complainant Tuesday.
The investigation could potentially be transferred to the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency. Hong said that while "police are responsible for all investigations, the agency can handle certain specific ones," and that "if it is deemed appropriate for the agency to investigate, a transfer request is made beforehand, and a transfer decision is made after reviewing the evidence."
Police also plan to examine whether the earlier investigation into the allegations surrounding Han's child was conducted properly. A police official said the results of the new investigation would reveal "whether the handling of the previous case involved deliberate omissions or was appropriately concluded based on the investigator's judgment," adding that an internal affairs review would follow based on those findings.
20ki@heraldcorp.com
