On Jan. 30, a South Korean court continued with the trial of a prosecutor who is accused of passing sensitive information on the progress of an investigation to an alleged virtual asset investment fraudster. According to the Gwangju District Prosecutor’s Office, the acts by the prosecutor constitute a violation of the Attorney General Act.
Prosecutor Accused of Tipping Off Fraudster
On Jan. 30, a South Korean court held its third trial of a prosecutor who is accused of passing on sensitive information to an alleged virtual asset investment fraudster. The unnamed prosecutor, who allegedly received financial favors from the fraudster known only as Tak, faces bribery and violation of the Attorney General Act charges.
According to the Gwangju District Prosecutor’s Office, the prosecutor is believed to have informed the fraudster’s broker named Seong of the existence of a search and seizure against his client. For supplying this information, the prosecutor allegedly received cash and goods worth $9,700.
The prosecutor is also accused of providing legal advice as well as writing and editing statements related to Tak’s criminal case. During his appearance as the court’s witness, Tak explained how Seong initiated the meeting between himself and the prosecutor. According to Tak, it was during one of their meetings in December 2020 when the prosecutor initially talked about altering his statement.
“I met with Mr. A at the office of a church one day with Mr. Seong, and he told me that I needed to revise my statement to sort out the details of the case,” the alleged fraudster reportedly told the court.
In his testimony, Tak said he only agreed to pay the bribe money after his broker warned him of an impending change in the fraud case. The broker allegedly told the fraudster that by making the payment would prevent his arrest. However, the prosecutor, through his lawyers, has disputed Tak’s claims and insisted that there is no way to prove that he indeed received the bribery money.
As per the report, as many as eight prosecutors and police officials linked to Seong’s investigation suppression tactics have been arrested.
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