Park Jong-jin, former chairman of the Incheon City Party, was cleared of charges in the police investigation on suspicion of donations for nominations.
Quick Look
The Incheon Police Agency announced that it conducted a search and seizure and conducted a cell phone forensics on Park Jong-jin, former chairman of the Incheon City Party of the People Power Party, who was accused of demanding money in exchange for nomination, but did not find any relevant evidence, so he was sent back without charge.
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Why It Matters
Ahead of the June 3 local elections, suspicions were raised that he used his position as chairman of the Incheon City Party of the People Power Party to demand money and valuables in exchange for nomination.
Cell phone forensics secured through search and seizure… Police: “No evidence confirmed”
(Incheon = Yonhap News) Reporter Hong Hyun-ki = Park Jong-jin, former chairman of the Incheon City Party of the People Power Party, who was accused of suspicion of so-called 'nomination donation', was cleared of charges in a police investigation.
The Incheon Police Agency's Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Investigation Unit announced on the 25th that it had sent former Chairman Park, who was accused of violating the Public Official Election Act, without charges.
Ahead of the June 3 local elections, former Chairman Park was suspected of using his position as Chairman of the Incheon City Party of the People Power Party and Chairman of the Nomination Management Committee to demand money from Mr. A, a preliminary candidate for the Namdong-gu basic assemblyman, in exchange for nomination.
The People Power Party's Responsible Party Members' Coalition reported the suspicion to the police on May 8, after former Chairman Park was nominated as a candidate for the People Power Party's Incheon Yeonsu Gap National Assembly by-election.
The Party Member Solidarity claimed that an Incheon City Party official who is close to former Chairman Park approached Mr. A and demanded money and valuables, and that former Chairman Park received entertainment in exchange while traveling overseas with prospective candidates subject to nomination screening.
The police explained that in order to confirm the facts of the suspicion of nomination donations, they secured the mobile phones of the two people involved through search and seizure and conducted digital forensics, but no relevant evidence was confirmed.
Regarding overseas travel, it was determined that it could not be considered entertainment as it was confirmed that the participants paid their own travel expenses.
A police official said, "We investigated the contents of cell phone messages at the request of the accusers, but no evidence was found of demanding money or receiving entertainment."
Open Questions
- What are the specific circumstances of the suspicion of demanding money?
- What is the list of overseas travel participants and expense details?
