S. Korean Justice Minister, Top Prosecutor Resign

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, November 05, 2002

S. Korean Justice Minister, Top Prosecutor Resign

South korean Justice Minister Kim Jong-kil and Prosecutor-General Lee Myung-jae offered to resign Monday over the recent death of a murder suspect during interrogation by prosecution investigators.

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South korean Justice Minister Kim Jong-kil and Prosecutor-General Lee Myung-jae offered to resign Monday over the recent death of a murder suspect during interrogation by prosecution investigators.

President Kim Dae-jung is expected to accept their resignations Tuesday and will appoint their successor, presidential spokesperson Park Sun-sook said.

The resignations came amid controversy over the Oct. 26 death of Cho Chun-hoon, a 30-year-old murder suspect, during interrogations at Seoul District Public Prosecutor's Office.

Earlier in the day, Lee visited Justice Minister Kim and tendered his resignation, holding himself responsible for the incident and expressed deep regret over the death of Cho. Minister Kim had been under attack from political parties following the incident.

Inspectors at the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office summoned prosecutor Hong who was in charge of the suspect's questioning for further investigation into the matter.

Hong reportedly interrogated the suspect for about an hour at the Seoul District Prosecutor's Office, giving weight to suspicions that Hong was directly involved in the alleged torture of Cho.

It is very likely that prosecutor Hong will be charged, prosecution insiders said. Three investigators were arrested last week, and some others will be questioned and possibly punished, they said.

The public apology and resignation by the Prosecutor General came one after another following the conclusion made by the National Institute of Scientific Investigation, which conducted an autopsy of Cho's body, that the suspect died from shock or cerebral hemorrhage.

Cho, a member of a criminal ring, was a suspect in two murder cases, one committed in June 1998 and the other in October 1999.

Kim Dae-jung Apologizes for Tragic Death of Suspect in Custody

South Korean President Kim Dae-jung apologized to the nation Tuesday for the death of a suspect in custody, accepting the resignations of Justice Minister Kim Jung-kil and Prosecutor General Lee Myung-jae to hold them responsible for the tragic incident.

Kim made the apology while presiding over a weekly cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, presidential spokesman Park Sun-sook said.

Source: Agencies

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