Personal Information Protection Act Violation Case Merged with Criminal Division 21 of Seoul Central District Court
The case in which Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok, who is investigating the 12·3 Martial Law-related insurrection and treason incidents, additionally indicted former Defense Security Command chief Noh Sangwon for violating the Personal Information Protection Act has been consolidated with Noh's case involving allegations of soliciting promotions.
On July 3, the 21st Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Hyunbok), which is handling the Personal Information Protection Act violation case against former chief Noh, consolidated it with his case involving charges of receiving bribes for influence under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.
The 21st Criminal Division specializes in election and corruption cases and is currently also handling bribery cases involving former President Moon Jaein and former lawmaker Lee Sangjik.
The special prosecutor for the insurrection case additionally indicted former chief Noh on June 27. He is accused of receiving military personnel information and other military intelligence from former Defense Security Command chief Moon Sangho and others, with the intent to select personnel for the "Second Investigation Unit," which was to investigate alleged election fraud as civilians.
Previously, former chief Noh, who had already been indicted for insurrection involving important duties, was also additionally indicted by prosecutors on May 16 on charges of receiving money and valuables from active-duty soldiers in exchange for soliciting their promotions (influence peddling).
This case was scheduled for its first trial on July 18 under the jurisdiction of Judge Ryu Kyungjin of the 10th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court, but due to the consolidation of the cases, the first hearing has also been postponed.
Upon additionally indicting former chief Noh, the special prosecutor's team also requested an extension of his detention from the court. This was because the six-month detention period for the first trial is set to expire on July 9, and they judged that if he is released without conditions, he may collude with accomplices to destroy evidence.
When additionally indicting former chief Noh, the special prosecutor's team also requested the 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ji Guyoun), which is handling the insurrection case, to consolidate the trials. Whether this consolidation will be granted in accordance with the special prosecutor's request has not yet been decided.
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