Contains Dates of Biwhaphone Issuance and Retrieval
The prosecution, continuing its investigation related to the 12·3 emergency martial law, is understood to have secured and is analyzing the 'Biwhaphone Issuance Ledger' from the Presidential Security Service. The Presidential Security Service had previously refused requests from investigative agencies to submit the ledger, citing it as confidential security material.
According to the legal community on the 5th, the Special Investigation Headquarters for Emergency Martial Law (headed by Park Se-hyun, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office) reportedly received the issuance ledger on an unsolicited basis from the Presidential Security Service at the end of January. The ledger contains the issuance and retrieval dates of Biwhaphones for key figures related to the emergency martial law, including President Yoon Seok-yeol, former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, former Commander of the Defense Counterintelligence Command Yeo In-hyung, former Commander of the Special Warfare Command Kwak Jong-geun, and former Commander of the Capital Defense Command Lee Jin-woo.
In particular, the issuance ledger for a Biwhaphone that former Minister Kim received as a reserve and handed over to former General Noh Sang-won, considered the 'unofficial planner of the emergency martial law,' was also submitted. However, the Presidential Security Service reportedly refused the prosecution's search, which was carried out after obtaining a search warrant from the court.
The data submission was reportedly made after the Presidential Security Service received a request cooperation letter and selectively submitted only some of the materials on its own. According to Articles 110 and 111 of the Criminal Procedure Act, places requiring military secrecy cannot be searched or seized without the approval of the person in charge. Previously, the Security Service had refused searches and seizures by the police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials.
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