Civic Group Files Complaint Alleging Abuse of Authority
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) has launched an investigation into former Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jinseok, who was reported for allegedly ordering the destruction of computers and documents in the presidential office.
According to the legal community on June 13, the CIO recently assigned the case, in which the civic group Citizens' Action for Judicial Justice (Sasehaeng) accused Chung of abuse of authority, obstruction of the exercise of rights, destruction of evidence, damage to public property, and violation of the Presidential Records Act, to Investigation Division 4 (headed by Chief Prosecutor Cha Junghyun).
Previously, the Democratic Party of Korea revealed through its campaign spokesperson on May 27, during the presidential election period, that there was a report alleging that Chung had instructed, "Do not hand over anything to the new administration, and use physical means if necessary to destroy PCs and other materials."
Sasehaeng stated, "Former Chief of Staff Chung ordered staff to destroy all records stored on official PCs and public documents in the presidential office in order to eliminate evidence related to the 12·3 Martial Law Incident involving former President Yoon Sukyeol and himself. He also disbanded all presidential office staff, thereby obstructing the new administration's ability to exercise its official duties." Sasehaeng filed the complaint against Chung on June 9.
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