The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit has launched a forced investigation into Yoo Byung-ho (56), Secretary General of the Board of Audit and Inspection, who is considered a key figure in the targeted audit allegations against Jeon Hyun-hee (59), former Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.
According to the legal community on the 23rd, the Special Investigation Headquarters of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (led by Chief Prosecutor Lee Dae-hwan) conducted a search and seizure operation over two days starting the previous day at multiple locations, including Yoo's office and residence in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
Yoo is suspected of being involved in conducting a targeted audit aimed at pressuring former Chairperson Jeon to resign. The investigation unit believes Yoo was deeply involved in initiating the audit against former Chairperson Jeon, as well as in the approval and disclosure process of the audit report.
The investigation unit has notified Yoo five times to appear for questioning as a suspect on charges including abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights. However, Yoo has refused to comply, stating he would appear in early December.
At the beginning of this month, during the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Committee's review of non-economic ministries, Kim Jin-wook, head of the investigation unit, responded to a question from Rep. Cho Eung-cheon of the Democratic Party regarding the possibility of requesting an arrest warrant for Yoo by saying, "We will use the means permitted by law."
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