CIO: "The process proceeded smoothly with the cooperation of the relevant institutions"
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), which is investigating allegations of external pressure in the "Marine Corporal Chae's Death Case" involving former President Yoon Suk-yeol, has completed a search and seizure of the presidential office.
On May 8, the CIO announced that it resumed the search and seizure of the Presidential Secretariat and the National Security Office at around 10:30 a.m. and concluded the operation at approximately 4:30 p.m. A CIO official explained, "The process proceeded smoothly with the cooperation of the relevant institutions."
The CIO had attempted to execute the search and seizure warrant from around 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on May 7 but halted the operation, resuming it the following day. The search and seizure warrant issued to the CIO specified the charge of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights against former President Yoon.
It has been reported that the CIO plans to secure meeting records and entry logs of the presidential office from around July 31, 2023, when the so-called "VIP rage theory" was raised. At the time, it is said that the initial investigation results of the Marine Corps investigation team were reported during a meeting.
The CIO is investigating allegations that, during the process in July 2023 when the Marine Corps investigation team identified former 1st Marine Division Commander Lim Sung-geun and others as responsible for Corporal Chae's death and referred them to the police, former President Yoon and officials from the presidential office and the Ministry of National Defense exerted external pressure.
Former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-sup approved the Marine Corps investigation team's findings but reversed his decision the next day. The core of the "VIP rage theory" is that former President Yoon, upon receiving 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 using the number '02-800-7070,' spoke for 2 minutes and 48 seconds, and immediately afterward instructed the suspension of the police referral and the cancellation of the media briefing regarding the Marine Corps investigation team's findings.
The CIO is investigating allegations that, during the process in July 2023 when the Marine Corps investigation team identified former Division Commander Lim and others as responsible for Corporal Chae's death and referred them to the police, former President Yoon Suk-yeol and officials from the presidential office and the Ministry of National Defense exerted external pressure.
Until the end of November last year, the CIO continued its investigation by questioning officials from the Ministry of National Defense and others as references, but temporarily suspended the probe to focus on investigations into the martial law and rebellion cases. The investigation has recently resumed. On May 9, the CIO plans to conduct another forensic examination of former Division Commander Lim's mobile phone, following a previous session on April 30.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
