New police anti-corruption unit raids two officers over alleged leak of case information
In short
The National Police Agency's Major Duty Crimes Investigation Unit (중요직무범죄수사대), set up last month to investigate misconduct inside the police, on October 7 searched the offices of two serving section chiefs at Seoul's Songpa Police Station and Suwon Paldal Police Station on suspicion of leaking official secrets. Section chief A is suspected of leaking investigation details obtained from section chief B, who was handling the case, at the request of a person involved in it. It is the first of the unit's investigations to become publicly known, and both officers have been placed on standby.
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The National Police Agency's Major Duty Crimes Investigation Unit (중요직무범죄수사대) on October 7 searched the offices of a section chief identified as A at Seoul's Songpa Police Station and a section chief identified as B at Suwon Paldal Police Station in Gyeonggi Province, on suspicion of leaking official secrets, according to the police on October 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
The two held section-chief-level posts last year at police stations under the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency. A is suspected of receiving a request from a person involved in a case, obtaining investigation details from B, who was handling that case, and leaking them. Asia Economy reported that the two worked together last year at a police station in the Seongnam area. Seoul Shinmun gave the rank of both officers as gyeongjeong (경정). [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency placed the two on standby following the start of the compulsory investigation. The unit plans to analyse material secured in the searches and soon summon those involved for questioning. Hankook Ilbo reported that police will analyse seized mobile phones and related material to establish how the investigation information was passed on and the actual scope of the leak, and will question the two and others. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
The case is the first investigation by the unit to become publicly known since it was set up last month. Kukmin Ilbo described the unit as handling bribery, leaking of official secrets, and playing down or covering up cases within the police. Newsis reported that it was launched on September 14, reports directly to the head of the National Office of Investigation, and was initially planned under the name Internal Corruption Investigation Unit (내부비리수사대) before being renamed in August. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Hankook Ilbo said the unit brings together internal corruption investigation functions previously spread across inspection and individual investigation departments. Seoul Shinmun said the National Police Agency set up the unit to root out internal misconduct ahead of a criminal justice system overhaul at the start of this month. [ 5 , 7 ]
Why it matters
The case is the first publicly known investigation by the unit, which handles misconduct inside the police such as bribery, leaking official secrets and covering up cases. Seoul Shinmun reported the unit was set up to root out internal misconduct ahead of a criminal justice system overhaul at the start of this month.
Key facts
- The National Police Agency's Major Duty Crimes Investigation Unit searched section chief A of Seoul Songpa Police Station and section chief B of Suwon Paldal Police Station on October 7 on suspicion of leaking official secrets. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- A is suspected of receiving a request from a person involved in a case, obtaining investigation details from B, who was handling that case, and leaking them. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Both held section-chief-level posts last year at police stations under the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency placed the two on standby. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The unit plans to analyse material secured in the searches and soon summon those involved for questioning. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
- It is the first investigation by the unit to become publicly known. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The unit was set up last month, in September. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The unit searched the two section chiefs on October 7 on suspicion of leaking official secrets. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- A is suspected of obtaining investigation details from B, who was handling the case, at the request of a person involved in it, and leaking them. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Both officers were placed on standby. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The unit plans to analyse the seized material and soon summon those involved. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
- This is the first of the unit's investigations to become publicly known. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- Who asked for the information and which case it concerned. None of the documents identify the person involved in the case or the case itself.
- Whether the two officers worked at the same station last year. Only Asia Economy reports they worked together at a police station in the Seongnam area; other outlets say only that each held a post at a station under the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency.
- How far the investigation information actually leaked. Hankook Ilbo reports police still plan to establish how the information was passed on and the actual scope of the leak.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 8: Kukmin Ilbo reports the previous day's searches of the two section chiefs and their placement on standby. [ 1 ]
- October 8: Yonhap reports the unit plans to analyse seized material and soon summon those involved. [ 3 ]
- October 8: Newsis reports the unit was launched on September 14 and renamed from its planned name in August. [ 4 ]
- October 8: Hankook Ilbo reports police will analyse seized mobile phones to establish the scope of the leak. [ 5 ]