▲ Special Prosecutor Lee Tae-han
The special prosecutor team led by Lee Tae-han, tasked with investigating the shortage of ballot papers during the June 3 local elections and other allegations, is setting up a temporary office and beginning operations today (August 24).
The special prosecutor team announced that it has established a temporary office at The Base Seocho Building in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, and that Special Prosecutor Lee and special investigators will begin their work there this afternoon.
The team plans to use nine floors, ranging from the 7th to the 15th floors of the 15-story building, as its offices.
Special Prosecutor Lee is expected to finalize the selection of assistant special prosecutors soon and accelerate preparations for the investigation, including assembling the full investigative team.
Under the Special Prosecutor Act on the Election Commission, the team can be organized with a maximum of 165 members, including 5 assistant special prosecutors, 70 special investigators, up to 20 dispatched prosecutors, and up to 70 dispatched public officials.
Special Prosecutor Lee, who was appointed on August 18, has a maximum preparation period of 20 days.
During this period, the team plans to select assistant prosecutors and investigative personnel, secure the office space, and embark on the full-scale investigation early next month.
The official investigation period is 90 days, and if necessary, it can be extended twice by 30 days each, allowing for a maximum investigation period of 150 days.
The scope of the investigation covers a total of 12 suspicions, including the shortage of local election ballot papers and manipulation of voting statistics, overseas junket trips by Election Commission officials, preferential hiring and promotions, and preferential private contracts and collusion with businesses.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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