SEOUL – A former South Korean spy chief who led the intelligence agency during last year’s martial law declaration was arrested on Wednesday for dereliction of duty, a Seoul court told AFP
The arrest follows a request by special prosecutors for a warrant against Cho Tae-yong, former head of the National Intelligence Service, on charges that he ignored his duties as spy agency chief and posed a risk of destroying evidence, among other allegations.
The Seoul Central District Court reviewed the validity of the warrant Tuesday and granted it.
“The outcome of the review is… the issuance of the warrant on the risk of evidence destruction,” the court said in a statement to AFP.
“The primary charge is dereliction of duty,” it added.
Prosecutors said Cho, a career diplomat who led the spy agency at the time of former president Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration in December, failed to report the move to parliament despite “understanding its illegality.” AFP
He is also accused of making false statements.
“The possibility that he was involved in the insurrection has increased,” prosecutor Park Ji-young told reporters last week.
Cho’s arrest comes after prosecutors added another indictment against Yoon on charges of aiding the enemy, alleging he ordered drone flights over North Korea to bolster his martial law plan.
North Korea said last year it had “proved” the South flew drones to drop propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang, an act Seoul’s military has not confirmed. AFP
