'Key Police Official Accused of "Parliament Blockade and Arrest Squad Operation" Assigned to Same Court as Yoon'

Key police officials accused of participating in the operation of arrest squads and blocking the National Assembly during the 12·3 emergency martial law will be tried in the same court as President Yoon Seok-yeol and Police Chief Jo Ji-ho.

Yonhap News

On the 5th, the Seoul Central District Court assigned the case involving Yoon Seung-young, Investigation Planning Coordinator of the National Police Agency’s National Investigation Headquarters (Police Commissioner), and Mok Hyun-tae, former National Assembly Security Commander (Senior Superintendent), on charges of engaging in important duties related to rebellion and abuse of authority obstructing the exercise of rights, to the 25th Criminal Division (Presiding Judge Ji Gui-yeon).

The 25th Criminal Division is handling the case of President Yoon, former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, former Commander of the Military Intelligence Command No Sang-won, former Military Police Commander of the 3rd Field Army Kim Yong-gun, among others. It is also responsible for cases involving key police officials such as Police Chief Jo and former Seoul Metropolitan Police Chief Kim Bong-sik.

Yoon, the coordinator, and Mok, the former security commander, were indicted without detention on the 28th of last month on charges of participating in the operation of arrest squads and involvement in blocking the National Assembly. Investigations revealed that Yoon received reports from Lee Hyun-il, Investigation Planning Manager of the National Investigation Headquarters, about the Military Counterintelligence Command’s attempted arrests and requests for support in organizing arrest squads, which he then relayed to Police Chief Jo, receiving approval and instructions.

According to the prosecution’s investigation, Yoon provided the list of 10 detectives from Yeongdeungpo Police Station to the Counterintelligence Command and, upon their request, organized 104 police personnel from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, of whom 81 were kept on standby at the office.

Former Security Commander Mok is accused of ordering the blocking of access to the National Assembly for civilians, including members of the National Assembly, twice after martial law was declared.