Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Reversal in the Interrogation Room
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Central District Prosecutors' Office Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun.
When it came to sharp and relentless investigative skills, she was top-tier among regular prosecutors, practically all-purpose and excelling in nearly every field.
After a stint of rest in the trial division, she had made a rare appearance in the investigation department as a backup for the criminal division.
'It's been a while.'
Kang Hyun fought back a faint smile as he adjusted his posture.
Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun was famous as part of the Central District Prosecutors' Office's trio of youngest law school alumni prosecutors, alongside Kim Jeong-min and Han Tae-woong. Though less so than those two, she had some connection with Kang Hyun as well.
Back when he was at the Central District Prosecutors' Office, he must have seen her hundreds of times in passing, and they'd shared meals dozens of times.
She usually seemed the most playful and cheerful, praising good work with a look in her eyes from behind the scenes, but scolding with a glance if titles or manners slipped.
Of course, that connection only applied when he wasn't an involved party in a case.
Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun showed no sign of recognizing Kang Hyun at all. It was clear she intended to focus solely on the case.
Naturally, Kang Hyun agreed with that approach.
"If you're ready, we'll begin. The notice of the right to remain silent under Article 224-3 of the Criminal Procedure Act applies to suspects, but per internal prosecution guidelines, I'll inform you anyway."
As the prosecutor signaled the start of the investigation, a prosecution office staffer sat down at a laptop diagonally across from them.
Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun recited the right to remain silent and the right to counsel—phrases she'd undoubtedly explained hundreds of times—and began receiving some documents.
An investigation into a criminal case by the prosecution.
Especially receiving an investigation as a complained-against party was no everyday occurrence.
So it was perhaps natural that Yang Hee-chan's face had drained of color and frozen stiff.
He looked so pitiful, like he'd faint if anyone even touched his shoulder, his eyes just darting around wildly.
"What's your address?"
"M-My address... w-wait a second."
Even the basic procedure of asking for personal details and confirming identity left Yang Hee-chan looking flustered.
But Kang Hyun remained utterly calm. Compared to everything he'd been through so far, this setting was nothing.
"Yang Hee-chan."
At last, the main investigation began.
Jung Ji-eun opened her mouth.
"Yang Hee-chan, you're claiming that Kang Hyun, the complained-against party in this case, publicly announced false facts under the Public Official Election Act. Correct?"
"Yes. Kang Hyun is claiming things that never happened as if they did. I'll defer to the materials we submitted beforehand."
A response coached by his lawyer.
He seemed to deliver his prepared lines well enough, though he spoke in a wheezing, grating tone as he caught his breath.
She immediately began searching for the submitted materials.
"It's a written statement claiming that on the day of the incident, during his speech, Kang Hyun told the students that 'the General Delegates' Council, Student Emergency Committee, General Alumni Association, and Law Center support him.' Is that right?"
"Yes. He spread these absurd lies to the public as if they were true. During his student council election campaign speech."
It was the content of the initial bomb-like text blast to the crowd: an internal directive calling for unity because various organizations supported Kang Hyun.
It was obviously a fake text, but Kang Hyun had instead declared it true and that the organizations would reflect and reform on many things.
Since they couldn't admit the text was fake from the start, they were all silenced, leaving Yang Hee-chan to bear the brunt alone.
But unaware of the full story, he nodded confidently.
As Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun turned to Kang Hyun with a look asking for his take on Yang Hee-chan's claim, Kang Hyun smiled brightly and said,
"It's not a claim. It's a fact."
"Does that even make sense? What nonsense is this!"
Yang Hee-chan shouted in disbelief at Kang Hyun's response.
But Kang Hyun added an explanation in an even more precise voice.
"It's not a false claim. The assertion that 'the General Delegates' Council, Student Emergency Committee, General Alumni Association, Law Center, and even the Daijin Group Foundation support me' is true."
"What? Are you insane? Where do you get off spouting this crap...?"
"Public Official Election Act Article 250 Paragraph 1. Publishing false facts regarding support from an affiliated organization, specific person, or specific organization with the purpose of getting elected is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to 30 million won. This case concerns the crime of publishing false facts. But I have never published false facts in this incident."
"You thick-skinned bastard!"
"Yang Hee-chan!"
Suddenly, the prosecutor's crisp voice pierced through like a stab.
"I'll give you a chance during the complainant's statement. Don't do anything to hurt your position."
"S-Sorry."
As he bowed his head, Jung Ji-eun turned sharply to Kang Hyun.
She showed no intention of going easy on him either.
"Kang Hyun, explain. Do you have any reason or evidence that makes your claim a fact?"
"Yes. I just haven't submitted the materials yet. The other side filed unilaterally, and it was only after receiving a content-certified warning letter from the law firm they consulted that I learned of the case's progression."
"But you pushed the investigation date forward. Why?"
"When the content certification arrived, based on the case's progress, it was about ten days before a summons would be issued. Since I'm innocent, I couldn't wait even those ten days. The materials were already prepared."
"H-Hey, what the hell are you saying?"
Ignoring Yang Hee-chan's reaction, Kang Hyun picked up his materials and placed them on the table.
"First, I'll submit the materials. Prosecutor, please attach them."
As Kang Hyun promptly submitted the documents like he'd been waiting, Yang Hee-chan furrowed his brows.
She asked,
"Explain the materials?"
"Yes. The first document is a memorandum from the General Alumni Association, stating they will use the development fund—originally for purchasing school land—for the students, as I claimed."
"W-What?"
Yang Hee-chan snatched up the document in shock. It clearly bore the seal of General Alumni Association President Jeong Dae-cheol.
"Th-This is..."
Still, she didn't smile at Kang Hyun and pressed on sharply with the next question.
"The memorandum is dated after the incident. Why?"
"The General Alumni Association decided to support me and promised the donation clearly before the incident date, but it was done verbally at the time. That's why the memorandum date is when I met Senior Jeong Dae-cheol, and he gladly wrote it up as we had agreed beforehand."
"A memorandum is just a memorandum; its enforceability is uncertain."
"I only told the students that the General Alumni Association had made an 'implementation promise' with me. I didn't publish false facts."
Yang Hee-chan, who had seemed about to shout something, could only stamp his feet in silence.
Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun was plenty sharp, pointing out oddities to attack Kang Hyun, so there was nothing more to say, and Kang Hyun was laying out his argument logically, leaving no openings.
"And the next material?"
"The General Delegates' Council's promise for sweeping reforms, like abolishing student fees, is also specified in internal meeting minutes. Please refer to the minutes from that meeting where the statement was made."
"There's no special material proving their support for you specifically?"
Thud.
"...?"
Yang Hee-chan stared at Kang Hyun in bewilderment upon seeing the USB on the table.
"It's a recording. Play it."
"Did you get consent for the recording?"
"Yes. They agreed to its use as material."
"Alright, let's check. Section Chief Park?"
At Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun's request to the prosecution staffer nearby, he jumped up and immediately played the recording from the USB.
-*Sob, sob... I'm sorry. Kang Hyun... If you become student council president, we'll do better... We promise...*
"Wh-What the hell is this!"
Yang Hee-chan yelled, but even to him, it sounded like the General Delegates' Council president's choked-up voice.
He didn't know if someone had threatened him or what the reason was.
But in the recording, he was tearfully pledging support to Kang Hyun.
"Following that, for the Emergency Committee's improvement promises, I have a written statement from Gu Min-jeong of the Emergency Committee."
Gu Min-jeong was the one who had looked shocked upon receiving a startling text while guiding Kang Hyun.
"No way!"
Yang Hee-chan reacted as if this were the truth and what he knew was a lie.
"Finally, Korea University Law Center Director Gong Hyun-jeong has consistently expressed support for me. Even in this case, she helped with legal consultation and recommending a lawyer for submitting an opinion. Related materials are submitted as well."
"Stop!"
Yang Hee-chan screamed as if he couldn't take any more.
"Stop it! Kang Hyun is right. I must have misunderstood!"
"Yang Hee-chan. That's detrimental to your position."
"I don't care! I think I misunderstood the false facts publication! Let's just end this pathetic fight..."
He trailed off mid-sentence.
Because he felt a fear and dread several times greater than the chill he'd felt before.
"...?"
Kang Hyun was smiling broadly now.
Just like everything had gone according to plan.
Terrified, Yang Hee-chan began parroting the explanations his lawyer had given him.
"So what? False facts publication case—you're just not guilty! What are you gonna do about it even if so?"
"You'll regret it."
"Regret what? Since you say all this is true, the text itself has no issue. If the text is true, we have nothing to fear!"
Yang Hee-chan had clearly made a mistake, but he didn't seem to realize it.
Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun wasn't one to let it slide.
"I'll record that statement. 'Since you say all this is true, the text itself has no problem, so we have nothing to fear.' In other words, when determining responsibility for the 'accidental text blast' that started this case, you're admitting partial responsibility, Yang Hee-chan."
"N-No, I..."
"Is that correct?"
"Damn it... Yeah, it is. But it's just a mistake. A mistake!"
With all the puzzle pieces falling into place, Kang Hyun's mouth split into a wide grin.
Then, casually and with perfect pronunciation, he uttered the one phrase that would utterly destroy Yang Hee-chan.
"Then, it's false accusation?"
"Wh-What, f-false accusation?"
"You knew it was true, and as someone involved in sending that text, you filed charges against me for publishing false facts anyway?"
Kang Hyun turned to Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun and said,
"Prosecutor, I'll countersue for false accusation. That's fine, right?"
"No..., w-wait."
"Criminal Code Article 156. Reporting false facts to investigative agencies, public offices, or officials with the intent to subject another to criminal punishment or disciplinary action is punishable by imprisonment for up to ten years or a fine of 15 million won."
Crash!
Yang Hee-chan's eyes rolled back for a moment.
"Shut up!"
Smack! Whoosh!
"Ugh!"
He leaped up and tried to smash Kang Hyun's head with the pen in his hand, but the prosecution staffer nearby jumped up and grabbed his fist.
Unfortunately, the flung pen grazed Prosecutor Jung Ji-eun's cheek, leaving a small scratch with a trickle of blood.
An enormous incident had occurred.
"..."
"..."
A hush fell for a moment, broken by Yang Hee-chan's frantic outburst.
"Let go! Let me go!"
"Yang Hee-chan! Stop it!"
The prosecution staffer tried to restrain him, but his rampage showed no signs of stopping.
Jung Ji-eun hadn't even flinched when the pen flew at her, glaring at him and saying just one thing.
"Stop it, Yang Hee-chan."
But Yang Hee-chan had no intention of halting.
Her voice dropped even lower.
"If you keep thrashing, I'll arrest you on the spot for aggravated obstruction of public duty."
"Shut up! Think you're special just 'cause you're a prosecutor? You crazy bitch!"
"..."
"?"
His one insult flipped the atmosphere.
Touching a prosecutor in the prosecution office.
That was as good as a death sentence.
Scrape.
Her face even colder, she stood abruptly and said calmly as she left,
"I'll conclude the investigation here. This is more than enough."
"Get out! Call someone else! Call someone else!"
"Get out?"
She smiled coldly, like a fox.
Even in this situation, Yang Hee-chan seemed oblivious to the dire straits he was in.
"Section Chief Park, arrest Yang Hee-chan immediately. Aggravated obstruction of public duty with injury and insult to boot."
"Yes, understood!"
"Wh-What?"
Clack-clack.
Bang! Creak!
As she left, prosecution staffers poured in.
"You bastards!"
He was bound by burly men, handcuffed behind his back, his face slammed down.
"Aaagh! Help! Somebody!"
Kang Hyun started to say something to Yang Hee-chan but clamped his mouth shut.
Then he slowly slipped out of the chaotic interrogation room.