'Political Involvement Suspicion' Former GIMUSA Commander Jo Hyun-cheon Requests Bail

Former Commander of the Republic of Korea Army's Defense Security Command (now the Defense Counterintelligence Command), Cho Hyun-cheon, who was arrested and indicted on charges including political involvement, has filed a bail request with the court.

Former Defense Security Command Commander Cho Hyun-cheon is speaking after being escorted to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office following his arrival through Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 on the morning of March 29.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the legal community on the 8th, Cho's legal team submitted a bail application to the court after the second pretrial hearing was held under Judge Kim Yu-mi of the Criminal Division 6 at the Seoul Western District Court the previous afternoon. The bail hearing is scheduled for 10:40 a.m. on the 21st.

Cho is accused of ordering subordinates to prepare reports related to the 2016 election for the chairman of the Federation of Korean Freedom Associations and mobilizing Defense Security Command agents to hold rallies supporting former President Park Geun-hye. The prosecution arrested Cho at the airport upon his return from the United States on March 29 and obtained an arrest warrant.

The prosecution has indicted Cho on charges including political involvement under the Military Criminal Act and embezzlement in the course of duty, and continues to investigate allegations related to the martial law documents. He is suspected of having formed a 'Martial Law Document Task Force (TF)' in February 2017, during the impeachment trial of former President Park, ordering the preparation of martial law review documents, and reporting these documents to then Minister of National Defense Han Min-gu and others.