"I Thought He Was Unfamiliar With Investigative Procedures"
Former Defense Security Command chief Yeo Inhyeong reportedly requested former National Police Agency Commissioner George Ho to track the whereabouts of politicians during the December 3 emergency martial law.
George Ho, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, who was prosecuted on charges of insurrection related to the December 3 emergency martial law incident. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung
On the 29th, Commissioner Ho appeared as a witness at the ongoing trial of former President Yoon Sukyeol, who is charged as the ringleader of insurrection, held by the 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ji Guyoun), and made this statement.
He testified that after the emergency martial law was declared on December 3 last year, former Commander Yeo contacted him, saying, "The martial law troops are scheduled to enter," and "We plan to arrest 15 politicians, so please track their locations."
He added, "I told former Commander Yeo that location tracking requires a warrant issued by the court, and that it was not possible at the moment. I thought to myself, 'He must not be familiar with investigative procedures.'"
He also testified that he received a report from the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency stating that "the Defense Security Command requested support for an arrest team," but he only instructed them to make preparations.
Former Commissioner Ho further stated that at 6 a.m. the day after martial law was declared, he spoke with Park Hyunsoo, then Director of the Police Bureau at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and said he "thought of former Commander Yeo as a madman."
He went on to say, "At the time, I did not act on the assumption that martial law was unconstitutional or illegal. Even if it goes against my beliefs, if it is stipulated by law, I must comply. Although I thought former Commander Yeo's call was unreasonable, I believed that if it was in accordance with the law, I should cooperate."
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