The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), which is investigating allegations of external pressure in the death of Marine Corporal Chae involving former President Yoon Suk Yeol, has conducted a second consecutive day of compulsory investigations at the presidential office.
On May 8, the CIO announced that it had resumed its search and seizure of the Presidential Secretariat and the National Security Office at around 10:30 a.m., after having suspended the operation the previous day. It is reported that the CIO is negotiating with the presidential office to receive related materials in effect as a voluntary submission after presenting the search and seizure warrant. According to Articles 110 and 111 of the Criminal Procedure Act, search and seizure cannot be conducted in locations requiring military or official secrecy without the consent of the person in charge.
On May 7, the CIO attempted to execute the search and seizure warrant from around 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. but suspended the operation, resuming it the following day. The search and seizure warrant obtained by the CIO specifies charges against former President Yoon for abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights.
The CIO reportedly plans to secure presidential office meeting materials and access records from around July 31, 2023, when the so-called 'VIP rage' incident was raised. It is reported that during that meeting, the initial investigation results from the Marine Corps Investigation Unit were presented.
The CIO is investigating allegations that, during the process in July 2023 when the Marine Corps Investigation Unit identified former 1st Marine Division Commander Lim Seonggeun and others as responsible for Corporal Chae's death and handed the case over to the police, former President Yoon, the presidential office, and Ministry of National Defense officials exerted external pressure.
Former Minister of National Defense Lee Jongseop initially approved the Marine Corps Investigation Unit's findings but reversed his decision the next day. The core of the 'VIP rage' theory is that former President Yoon, after being briefed on the investigation results during a presidential office meeting, became enraged and reprimanded former Minister Lee.
It is known that on July 31, 2023, at 11:54 a.m., former Minister Lee received a call from the Presidential Security Service's number '02-800-7070' and spoke for 2 minutes and 48 seconds. Immediately afterward, he reportedly ordered the suspension of the police handover of the Marine Corps Investigation Unit's findings and the cancellation of a press briefing.
The CIO is investigating allegations that, during the process in July 2023 when the Marine Corps Investigation Unit identified former Division Commander Lim and others as responsible for Corporal Chae's death and handed the case over to the police, former President Yoon, the presidential office, and Ministry of National Defense officials exerted external pressure.
The CIO continued its investigation, including interviewing Ministry of National Defense officials as witnesses until the end of November last year, but temporarily suspended the probe to focus on the investigation into the martial law and rebellion case. The investigation has recently resumed. On May 9, the CIO plans to conduct another forensic analysis of former Division Commander Lim's mobile phone, following a previous analysis on April 30.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
