21 key individuals including Cho Byeong-no, former head of the Jeonbuk Provincial Police (Regional Police Director), present as witnesses.
Baek Hae-ryong, head of the second detective team at Yeongdeungpo Police Station, and detectives explain the process of arresting an international crime organization trafficking methamphetamine imported from Malaysia in a raid at Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul on October 10, 2023. Reporter Cho Tae-hyung.,
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, ‘On the 20th, the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee will hold a hearing on the suspicion of ‘pressure related to drug smuggling investigation’. Whether the presidential office intervened in the investigation is expected to be a key issue.’,
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, ‘The hearing will be attended by key figures in the alleged incident, including Cho Byeong-no, former head of the Jeonbuk Provincial Police (Regional Police Director), and Baek Hae-ryong, chief of the Hwagok Police Box at Gangseo Police Station (Police Chief). Also, witnesses include Cho Ji-ho, commissioner general of the National Police Agency, Woo Jong-soo, head of the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency, Kim Bong-sik, chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Nam Je-hyun, administrative officer of the National Security Office Presidential Secretariat, and Kim Chan-soo, administrative officer of the Presidential Secretariat’s Local Government Secretariat.’,
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, ‘In October last year, Cho Byeong-no, head of the Safety & Security Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency at the time, allegedly pressured Baek Hae-ryong, head of the Criminal Affairs Division at Yeongdeungpo Police Station and the team leader in the customs officer drug smuggling case, over the phone to exclude the NIS from the press release. The core allegation is that the presidential office intervened in this process. Baek stated during the confirmation hearing for police chief nominee Cho Ji-ho last month that he heard from the former Yeongdeungpo Police Station chief, “Yongsan (presidential office) knows about this incident. They are taking it seriously.”‘,
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, ‘Seven witnesses, including former National Police Agency commissioner general Yoon Hee-geun, submitted reasons for their absence. Yoon, the former chief, was selected as a witness to confirm the investigation situation during Baek’s drug case and the inspection details regarding Cho Byeong-no. However, he cited “I have not given specific command or supervision for individual cases and currently am retired” as the reason for not attending.’,
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, ‘Choi Jong-ho, former CEO of Black Pearl Investment, who is suspected of involvement in personnel meddling regarding Cho Byeong-no, stated “health reasons such as the investigation by the State Affairs Commission and mental stress, hypertension-related heart disease, etc.” as the reasons for not attending.’