Ex-spy chief indicted over alleged martial law involvement
In this file photo, Cho Tae-yong, center, a former chief of the National Intelligence Service, arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul to attend his arrest warrant hearing , Nov. 11. Yonhap
Cho Tae-yong, a former chief of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), was indicted by a special counsel team Friday on multiple charges, including alleged involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law imposition.
The indictment by special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team came after he was formally put under arrest on Nov. 12 on charges of NIS law violations, dereliction of duty, perjury, destruction of evidence, creation of false official documents and false testimony at parliament, which are all related to the Dec. 3 martial law declaration.
Former NIS chief Cho, who was known as a trusted confidant of Yoon, is accused of being involved in the entire situation before and after martial law.
The special counsel team suspects that Cho neglected his duties by failing to report the martial law plan to the National Assembly before Yoon's televised address to the nation.
He is also accused of failing to report to the National Assembly after receiving a report that martial law troops were out to detain then opposition leader Lee Jae Myung and then ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon.
"The post of the NIS director is not one that serves a specific political faction or the president's personal political position but rather one that prioritizes the people and protects national security," assistant special counsel Park Ji-young said in a press briefing.