[Anchor]
The joint prosecution-police investigation team accelerating its probe into allegations surrounding former National Election Commission Chairperson Noh Tae-ak's overseas business trips with his spouse. Investigators have found that there was no official invitation from the host country for the former chairperson's spouse, and that four election commission officials were mobilized to assist her with unofficial schedules.
Reporter Kim Deok-hyeon has the details.
[Reporter]
The joint prosecution-police investigation team has recently uncovered circumstances suggesting that the overseas trips taken by the spouse of former National Election Commission Chairperson Noh Tae-ak across three occasions cannot be viewed as official duties.
Investigators found that four election commission officials accompanied and assisted the former chairperson's spouse in local sightseeing during the overseas trips.
Previously, the joint investigation team conducted questioning regarding these individuals and reportedly secured statements confirming that "they carried out unofficial schedules."
According to the election commission's travel records, the former chairperson's spouse did not attend schedules related to election commission duties, such as the electoral system.
Regarding SBS's exclusive report last June that there was no official invitation from the host countries for the spouse prior to the couple's overseas trips, the joint investigation team also officially verified this fact through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ultimately, the joint investigation team has determined that all of former Chairperson Noh's overseas trips accompanied by his spouse were itineraries independently planned by the election commission, with all related budgets covered by the commission itself.
The joint investigation team is also looking into whether former Chairperson Noh was briefed on and aware of the travel plans in advance, and whether he was involved in the process of mobilizing election commission staff for unofficial itineraries.
To verify these matters, the joint team summoned and questioned two officials from the National Election Commission as reference witnesses, including one staff member who accompanied former Chairperson Noh on his overseas trips.
Meanwhile, regarding the ballot paper shortage incident, the joint investigation team summoned the head of the Gangnam-gu Election Commission office as a suspect, and is continuing to question related individuals over suspicions of voter turnout manipulation.
(Video Editing: Lee So-young, Design: Cho Su-in)
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