Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: Mastering Suspect Interrogation
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183.
Room 323, prosecutor's office.
Kim Young-cheol, the man who had scammed people out of over 8 million won through used goods fraud and was brought in by a joint effort from Investigator Seong Tae-o and Junior Investigator Choi Tae-ri.
And across from him sat Prosecutor Kang Hyun, his expression calm and composed.
Kang Hyun glanced briefly at Seong Tae-o and Choi Tae-ri, then spoke in a low voice.
"Well then, Investigator Seong Tae-o. Junior Investigator Choi Tae-ri."
The two observers perked up their ears.
"What is it we need to do now?"
"Interrogate the suspect."
"Conduct the investigation."
"Both are correct. This is what the two of you will take the lead on from here."
"...Pardon? Interrogate the suspect?"
"Huh."
In the prosecutor's office, investigations into suspects are typically conducted with investigators participating while the prosecutor leads, or investigators handle most of it and the prosecutor wraps up, always involving at least two people.
The ability to conduct investigations is the flower of policing—the special skill that uncovers the true facts of a crime by correcting the suspect's false statements and helping the judge make an easy, logical determination of the criminal facts.
It was a core capability of any investigative agency.
Hearing that they had to play such a crucial role, the two investigators widened their eyes in surprise and looked at Kang Hyun, but he met their gazes with eyes full of conviction that they could do it.
In Kang Hyun's judgment, if they mastered suspect interrogation, they had more than enough potential to develop on their own and become fully realized investigators.
'It was just a lack of opportunity.'
However, given the rigid hierarchy of the prosecutor's office and the culture of learning on the job through observation, it wouldn't have been easy for them to pick up such skills.
Especially since they had been branded as incompetent at their jobs.
That was why Kang Hyun intended to give them a proper chance to observe and learn real suspect interrogation as part of a prosecutor's case handling.
"We'll do this by the book, so please watch closely."
"Th-thank you."
"Yes, sir!"
Like a master craftsman passing down a tempered blade to his successor, Kang Hyun adjusted his posture in front of the computer.
He was granting Seong Tae-o and Choi Tae-ri this rare opportunity to witness a prosecutor conducting a suspect interrogation firsthand, without asking for anything in return.
Kang Hyun withdrew his gaze from the two investigators and turned to Kim Young-cheol sitting before him.
"Let's begin the investigation. I am Prosecutor Kang Hyun from the Criminal Division of the Namyangju Branch Office, handling your case. From now on, we will go over the facts of your alleged crimes and prepare the 'interrogation record' that the judge will reference in trial."
"Eek... You're doing the investigation? For something this minor..."
"Investigation commenced at 10:30 a.m. today. I will now inform you of your right to remain silent."
"...Yes."
Being able to observe a prosecutor conducting an investigation from start to finish with their own eyes.
Seong Tae-o and Choi Tae-ri knew this was a privilege granted only to them, so they opened their notebooks wide-eyed, pens at the ready, vowing not to miss a single detail.
Investigation techniques.
For Kang Hyun, criminal investigations were something no one had taught him, yet they had become second nature at some point.
All the procedures were laid out in the Criminal Procedure Act, and the elements of the crimes to prove were in the Criminal Code.
From minor investigative terms like 'stamped' and 'unstamped,' to essential details for case records to gain evidentiary value, such as 'rights notification' or 'delivery of seized items list'—no matter how trivial.
That was why Kang Hyun never skipped a single step and had no reason to.
Among them, 'suspect interrogation' required not just legal knowledge, but keen judgment on crime elements and logical structuring skills.
Kang Hyun handled this with effortless mastery and freedom.
But Choi Tae-ri and Seong Tae-o were different.
No matter how much it was called the flower of investigation, they had likely only heard about suspect interrogation in passing.
For first-timers, they might imagine it like in movies or media—tying up the suspect, slamming the desk, aggressively demanding confessions with a barrage of questions.
That was why Kang Hyun needed to reshape their perception of investigations while presenting them with a systematic, detailed framework.
Kang Hyun closed the case file with a soft rustle and met Kim Young-cheol's eyes.
"Let me correct your misconception first. Everything you say from now on can be used as evidence of guilt, so choose your answers carefully. Kim Young-cheol, you won't be punished just for simple used goods fraud. This includes not only internet fraud but violations of the Electronic Financial Transactions Act and bank fraud. These are serious charges."
"What are you talking about? How much crime did I even commit..."
His attitude flipped the moment Kang Hyun listed the charges, revealing his true colors. Kang Hyun calmly countered, as if putting on a show for Seong Tae-o and Choi Tae-ri.
Criminal Code Article 347 Paragraph 1, Electronic Financial Transactions Act Article 49 Paragraph 4 Item 1, Article 6 Paragraph 3 Item 1 (transfer of electronic financial transaction access medium), concurrent crime aggravation Criminal Code Article 37 front clause, Article 38 Paragraph 1 Item 2, Article 50, and Criminal Code Article 48 Paragraph 1.
"Pardon?"
"Kim Young-cheol, you already have prior fines for fraud and theft. Moreover, this case targeted an unspecified number of victims, making the crime quality poor. Even considering age, health, and family situation, it's beyond mitigation."
"What does that mean? I don't know."
"Better exercise your right to silence. I'll note it down: The suspect remained silent to the prosecutor's questions. It will work against you in sentencing."
"Tch, fine, I get it. I did do some of it. But I planned to make money quick and pay it back bit by bit in a few days."
Under fraud elements, even without ability to repay, if there's evident effort to do so, it might not qualify as fraud.
Knowing this well, the suspect claimed intent to repay, but Kang Hyun shook his head.
"Let's check your account transaction history. Confirm this CCTV footage of the scene."
"...Yes."
"Is this you, Kim Young-cheol?"
"Not sure."
"Listen to the phone statement from the bank employee who served you. They confirmed it was you. Going to deny it?"
"...Yes. I went to the bank that day. But it was for living expenses..."
"Exactly. After deceiving the victim in this case, you withdrew the 30,000 won received and used it for living expenses, correct?"
"Pardon? Yes."
"In other words, Kim Young-cheol, you intended to use the money from the victim for personal purposes. Even if money came in later, it would go to living expenses or other debts—not to returning it to this victim or others."
"...Life's been tough for me too."
"Yes. That's precisely fraud. Obtaining property benefit from the victim without ability or intent to repay."
Kim Young-cheol froze, gasping as if speechless.
Beside them, Seong Tae-o and Choi Tae-ri furiously copied and memorized Kang Hyun's procedures and structure.
"This 30,000 won is just the most recent; we'll go through each of the 53 victims you deceived and what you did with the money one by one."
"...I intended to repay the others."
Now came the time for patience.
Kang Hyun questioned Kim Young-cheol on each victim's fraud details, repeating as needed.
"About 14 days before this incident, you posted selling wireless earphones worth 230,000 won to a victim, correct?"
"...Yes."
"Then there's inconsistency. By your claim, the used marketplace ID you deleted after a prior case should have been restored, but the timeline doesn't match."
"...Pardon?"
"Per the portal site's terms and guidelines, for IDs deleted and restored three or more times..."
"I used my father's name and phone number."
"Lie. The personal info inquiry report confirms it's you."
Click.
"...Gasp."
When lies chain together, dismantle them one by one.
After a few rounds, the suspect's fabrications lose power and collapse on their own.
Unable to counter even one of Kang Hyun's attacks, Kim Young-cheol turned ashen and gave up answering.
"Yes, I did it all."
"Then we'll switch to confession statement. Why the initial lies?"
"...Thought I wouldn't get caught."
The suspect hung his head; the prosecutor calmly noted his words.
This was the beginning and end of investigation.
Reconstructing illogical cases by presenting CCTV, statements, and other evidence, repeatedly drawing out the truth.
Ultimately forcing the suspect to abandon persistent falsehoods.
Having witnessed part of Kang Hyun's investigative process, Seong Tae-o and Choi Tae-ri nodded.
Kang Hyun signaled them with his eyes.
'You can do even better from now on.'
It was trust from Kang Hyun. And his resolve to mold these new team members into outstanding investigators.
Bow.
"Chief, end-of-month performance report."
"Hm? Prosecutor Bang. Already that time of month when you show your face?"
With a click, a man placed documents on Park Min-seong's desk.
"Based on this data, Room 323 is slated for excellent office commendation. Take note."
"Got it. You're dismissed."
And like a shadow, he appeared and vanished.
It was Deputy Chief Prosecutor Bang Dong-jae. He was the type who only emerged like a shadow for performance or audit matters, normally handling the planning office from the junior side.
So when he suddenly placed a summarized report on the desk, it was usually quarterly, monthly, or daily reports—or audit materials or performance stats.
"Alright, let's see. April's almost over already."
The report covered 'Criminal Divisions 1 & 2 Quarterly Performance' and 'Monthly Performance.'
Stats compiled by office to determine promotions, commendations, transfers—everything.
Ideally, Division 1 and 2 chiefs should aggregate and report to the branch head.
But receiving 'Criminal Division overall' performance meant something big was brewing across Namyangju.
Yet the unflappable Park Min-seong began scanning each office's stats.
'Excellent office, huh. Senior Prosecutor Hwang's around 422 should qualify. She's handling the heavy cases.'
But checking the data, Park Min-seong let out a disbelieving puff of air.
"...Huh."
It was due to the performance of Room 323, Criminal Division 1—Prosecutor Kang Hyun.
"No way Deputy Chief Bang made a mistake."
Rubbing his eyes thinking it erroneous, he double-checked the stats—same result.
"How... did they rack up this much performance?"
Incredibly, Room 323 Prosecutor Kang Hyun's investigative performance was on par with Room 422 Prosecutor Hwang Jae-eun's.
It was absurd.