Scandal-hit prosecutor jumps to death

By Park Si-soo

Byun Chang-hoon

A senior prosecutor embroiled in an illegal election meddling scandal jumped to his death, police said Monday.

Byun Chang-hoon jumped from the fourth floor of an office building in Seocho-dong, Seoul, at around 2:30 p.m. He was taken to a nearby hospital and declared dead at around 4 p.m.

The prosecutor was due to attend a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court at 3 p.m. over allegations that he had interrupted an investigation into the state spy agency’s allegedly illegal meddling in the 2013 presidential election.

Byun was one of the senior prosecutors suspected of having instructed, destroyed or manipulated evidence of the meddling.

A former senior official of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) was arrested last month for his alleged connection with the election meddling scandal.

Choo Myeong-ho, then chief of the NIS domestic intelligence unit, is suspected of directing a string of operations to keep under surveillance and disadvantage high-profile figures and celebrities critical of the Lee Myung-bak government.

Former President Lee was also accused of possible involvement.