Prosecutor's Office signboard [Yonhap News]

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office announced on the 28th that it has selected four prosecutors, including Kim Jeong-hoon (41st Judicial Research and Training Institute) from the Criminal Affairs Division 1 of the Busan Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, led by Chief Prosecutor Lee Seung-hak, as outstanding examples of judicial control for the first quarter of this year. This recognition was given for their efforts in pursuing the indictment of organization members in a private rental fraud case involving approximately 20 billion won, which the police had initially decided not to forward for prosecution.

According to the prosecution, the police had investigated Mr. A for organized crime after uncovering evidence that he, along with accomplices, defrauded about 28.9 billion won in lease deposits through "debt-free gap investment" in June 2019.

However, the police later decided not to forward the case, judging that the requirements for establishing a criminal organization, such as a common purpose for committing crimes, were not met. The prosecution requested a reinvestigation, but the police again decided not to forward the case.

Upon receiving the case, Prosecutor Kim reviewed the investigation and trial records of accomplices and interviewed 12 related individuals. Ultimately, Mr. A was indicted for organizing and operating a criminal organization. Prosecutor Kim also identified five members of the organization that the police had not investigated, leading to the indictment of a total of seven individuals.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated that "actual judicial control over the police was realized through the demand for forwarding cases not sent by the police and direct supplementary investigations." They added, "The true nature of the private rental fraud ring was clearly revealed, and organized private rental fraud crimes that destroy the livelihoods of ordinary citizens were strictly addressed."

Prosecutor Bae Seok-hee (2nd Bar Exam) from the Criminal Affairs Division 3 of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office was also recognized for his outstanding work. He re-investigated a perpetrator who was sent for prosecution without detention for aiding and abetting fraud in a fake virtual asset investment website case. The perpetrator was then arrested and indicted for fraud under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes.

In addition, Prosecutor Kim Dae-seong (8th Bar Exam) from the Daegu Western District Prosecutors' Office, who took over and indicted suspects in traffic accidents resulting in death and loan fraud cases that the police had not forwarded, and Prosecutor Kim Tae-chang (13th Bar Exam) from the Goyang District Prosecutors' Office, who requested corrective actions for suspects whose right to defense was not guaranteed during the police investigation stage, were also selected as outstanding cases.