Police extend investigation period for Kim Byeong-gi again... Opinion of the Public Prosecution Service: ‘More supplementation is needed’

The police once again extended the investigation period following the opinion of the Public Prosecution Service that a supplementary investigation, including reinforcement of evidence, was needed for the investigation into various allegations of misconduct by independent lawmaker Kim Byeong-gi.

According to the police on the 12th, the Investigation Deliberation Committee (Investigation Deliberation Committee) approved the 'request for extension of the investigation period of Rep. Kim' by the Public Crimes Investigation Unit of the Metropolitan Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

The extended investigation period is until the end of this month.

Previously, Rep. Kim's accusers applied for an investigation review, saying that as the police investigation took longer, a review of the delay in the investigation was necessary.

Accordingly, the Investigation Review Committee held a regular meeting on August 25th and instructed the investigation team to "promptly handle the matter within one month."

However, the investigation team requested an extension of the investigation period early last month, saying that more time was needed to carry out the supplementary investigation requested when the Public Prosecution Office returned the arrest warrant for Rep. Kim without requesting it.

After completing the supplementary investigation, an 'important case cooperation procedure' was recently conducted with the Public Prosecution Office regarding the disposition of the case, but as the Public Prosecution Office expressed the opinion that additional investigation of some charges was necessary, the investigation team again requested an extension of the investigation period.

The Public Prosecution Service is known to have expressed the opinion that some charges, including the suspicion of independent lawmaker Kang Seon-woo's connivance of accepting bribes, need to be supplemented by reviewing legal principles and strengthening evidence.

The police are expected to complete the investigation within this month and hand the case over to the Public Prosecution Office without attempting to reapply for an arrest warrant for Rep. Kim.