Seoul: A joint police-prosecution investigation team conducted a raid on the National Election Commission (NEC) on Monday, intensifying their probe into suspected embezzlement by former chief Roh Tae-ak and alleged misappropriation of commission funds. The investigators focused their efforts on the NEC chairperson's office, armed with a warrant that named Roh and other undisclosed NEC officials as criminal suspects. However, Roh's residence was not part of the day's search.
According to Yonhap News Agency, during Roh's tenure, he embarked on three overseas business trips with his spouse to destinations including Australia and New Zealand, Germany and Estonia, and Denmark and Sweden. Notably, the NEC's publicly released post-trip reports failed to mention the spouse's presence, thereby arousing suspicion of occupational embezzlement.
The NEC is also facing a separate investigation concerning allegations that 461 employees embarked on 107 overseas business trips between 2022 and June of this year. These trips reportedly included visits to resort areas and popular tourist destinations such as the Maldives, Bangkok, Kota Kinabalu, and Florence.
The investigation was initiated following a complaint filed by the main opposition People Power Party against Roh on June 19, suspecting him of occupational embezzlement. Roh stepped down from his position last month after ballot shortages caused disruptions at several southern Seoul polling stations during the June 3 local elections.