Police Secure Testimony That 'Prosecutors Also Come to the National Election Commission' During Martial Law

Prosecutors Refute: "No Request for Dispatch Made"

The police have secured testimonies from multiple Counterintelligence Command (Bangcheopsa) officials indicating that the prosecution and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) played roles in the plan to seize control of the National Election Commission (NEC) during the 'December 3 Emergency Martial Law Incident.'

Former Intelligence Command Chief No Sang-won, who is accused of premeditating the emergency martial law on December 3 and drafting the proclamation, is being transferred to the prosecution while moving to the escort vehicle at the Seoul Western Police Station in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul on the 24th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

According to the Special Investigation Unit of the National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters on the 24th, Bangcheopsa agents received orders that after the declaration of martial law, the prosecution and NIS would soon go to the NEC and were to support them. The Bangcheopsa forces waited near the NEC but withdrew after the National Assembly passed a resolution to lift martial law.

The police detected circumstances suggesting that former Intelligence Command Commander Noh Sang-won attempted to form a separate investigation unit under his command. A Special Investigation Unit official stated the previous day, "We secured testimony that the meeting at the time was centered around former Commander Noh forming a separate 'Investigation Unit 2.' After the martial law declaration, a joint investigation headquarters was supposed to be formed, but it is believed that he intended to operate independently by organizing Investigation Unit 2 mainly with the Intelligence Command and the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters." He added, "Investigation Unit 2 received its first order to secure the servers of the Central Election Commission."

Former Commander Noh even pre-prepared personnel appointment documents assigning military personnel to Investigation Unit 2. The Special Investigation Unit official said, "Although we have not confirmed who prepared it, after the proclamation order was issued, former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun took the documents out of an envelope and handed them over. Based on this, it was confirmed that personnel appointment documents were also prepared." The documents included a list of about 60 people, including the head of the investigation unit, among whom 15 military personnel had been registered as suspects on charges such as rebellion and abuse of authority.

The prosecution denied having received any requests from Bangcheopsa. Earlier, on the 14th, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "The prosecution has neither received nor dispatched any requests related to martial law from Bangcheopsa or any other agency."