Moon Da-hye to be questioned by police over drunk driving case
By Kwak Yeon-soo
A police investigation into the daughter of former President Moon Jae-in on suspicion of drunk driving has put the primary opposition Democratic Social gathering of Korea (DPK) in an ungainly place, amid mounting criticism from outdoors and inside the celebration.
In response to police, Monday, Moon Da-hye’s automobile collided with a taxi whereas she was altering lanes central Seoul’s Itaewon neighborhood at 2:51 a.m. on Saturday, inflicting minor accidents to the taxi driver. Her blood alcohol focus was measured at 0.149 %, exceeding the 0.08 % threshold which is topic to the revocation of a driver’s license.
“Moon Da-hye carried out a breathalyzer check and accompanied a police officer on the day of the accident. We’re arranging the summoning schedule for Moon. She is going to face the identical protocols as different suspects,” a senior police official mentioned, refusing to remark whether or not the police will arrange a photograph line the place suspects stand earlier than the press and reply questions. Nonetheless, dozens of reporters gathered at Yongsan Police Station, anticipating her arrival.
The police mentioned they may also examine whether or not she violated different visitors legal guidelines, similar to visitors sign violations or unlawful parking.
She was driving a Hyundai Casper automobile, which she obtained from her father in April. In August, a police station on Jeju Island determined to impound the automobile because of non-payment of visitors fines, however no seizure occurred.
The accident comes at a tough time as a result of she has been suspected as one of many key figures in bribery allegations involving the previous president. Prosecutors at the moment are wanting into accusations that her then-husband was appointed as an government of Thai Eastar Jet in alternate for favors granted to former DPK lawmaker Lee Sang-jik, the founding father of Eastar Jet, a Korean airline suspected to be the mum or dad firm of the Thai agency.
On Aug. 30, prosecutors visited the residence of Moon Da-hye to evaluate the extent of monetary help she obtained from her mother and father throughout his presidency.
Neither the previous president nor the DPK issued a press release concerning the drunk driving case. The previous president had likened drunk driving to “an act of homicide” throughout his time in workplace.
In October 2018, Moon advised his senior advisers that “DUI-related accidents usually are not errors, however incidents that would result in deaths or fully destroy others’ lives.” On the time, he known as for more durable penalties for DUI offenses.
Rep. Park Chan-dae, the ground chief of the DPK, remained cautious on the case, merely saying, “That is one thing that ought to not have occurred,” with out elaborating. Different lawmakers of the DPK haven’t responded to the case in worry that it’ll face a backlash. They fear that this incident could dampen their efforts to direct public consideration towards controversies surrounding first girl Kim Keon Hee.
In addition they fear the case could stoke criticism and lift questions concerning the management of Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chief of the DPK, who was reportedly fined 1.5 million received ($1,113) in 2004 for a DUI.
In the meantime, the ruling Folks Energy Social gathering (PPP) has been pressuring the previous president to apologize for his daughter’s misconduct.
“Frantic supporters of former President Moon are saying that Moon Da-hye’s drunk driving is as a result of the prosecution harassed her. That may by no means be an excuse,” Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, a member of the PPP’s Supreme Council, mentioned Monday.
“I feel it will be greatest for former President Moon to apologize shortly,” Rep. Park Jeong-hun of the PPP mentioned in an interview with CBS radio.