An opposition lawmaker was summoned by the prosecution Thursday for questioning over alleged perjury in a presidential election meddling case.
Rep. Kwon Eun-hee of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy was a police officer on a team that in 2013 investigated the National Intelligence Service’s alleged online smear campaign to sway public opinion in favor of then ruling party candidate Park Geun-hye in the 2012 presidential election.
In April 2013, Kwon claimed she had been barred by her superiors, including Kim Yong-pan, then chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, from pursuing the case as far as she believed was appropriate, a comment that sent ripples through political circles and the state intelligence agency.
The Supreme Court, however, acquitted Kim of charges of abusing his authority to influence the police investigation earlier this year, citing a lack of evidence and lack of credibility in Kwon’s testimony.
Some conservative organizations including Young’s Liberty Union filed a lawsuit against Kwon in January 2014 for allegedly giving false testimony.
“There is no change in the fact that there was suppression to hinder further investigation,” Kwon told reporters before entering the prosecutors’ office in southern Seoul. “I am preparing all possible measures to reveal the objective truths including the relation between Kim and the NIS.”
Prosecutors of the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office said they are investigating whether Kwon gave false testimony on purpose to harm the former chief of the SMPA. (Yonhap)
