▲ The National Election Commission building in Gwacheon during a search and seizure by the special counsel team led by Lee Tae-han on the 21st
An official belonging to the National Election Commission (NEC) has been found dead while undergoing questioning by the special counsel team investigating the agency.
At around 7:06 a.m. today (the 21st), a man in his 40s identified as A, a Grade 5 official belonging to the election infrastructure division of the NEC, was found dead in a flower bed near an apartment complex in Bongdam-eup, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province.
It was reported that the suicide note contained messages expressing grievances and a sense of unfairness regarding the investigation process by the NEC special counsel team.
A appeared before the special counsel team as a suspect yesterday morning to undergo questioning.
A had been facing allegations of bid-rigging and occupational breach of trust.
The special counsel team has been looking into overall service contracts for election supplies, such as early ballot boxes and polling station notice boards, from the presidential election last year and the local elections this year.
The team has also been expanding its investigation into suspected bid irregularities related to these matters.
A finished the questioning at around 8:55 p.m. yesterday with a legal counsel present.
Afterwards, A reviewed the suspect interrogation protocol for about an hour and 45 minutes and returned home at approximately 10:40 p.m.
The special counsel team stated, "We express our deepest condolences to the deceased."
They added, "The protocol was reviewed and modified based on the suspect's voluntary intent, and there were no coercive situations during the investigation process."
The special counsel team appears to be paying keen attention to the impact A's death will have on the ongoing investigation.
The special counsel team had also conducted a search and seizure targeting former NEC Chairman Noh Tae-ak, who is considered a key figure in the suspicions surrounding the commission.
They had been broadening the scope of the investigation, including securing Noh's mobile phone.
Special Counsel Lee Tae-han had planned to pay a courtesy call on Kim Ji-yong, the inaugural head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, this afternoon and explain future investigation plans to reporters through a door-stepping session, but the possibility of postponing this schedule has been raised.
※ If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or other difficult concerns, you can receive 24-hour professional counseling through the suicide prevention hotline at 109 or the suicide prevention social media counseling service 'Madeulan'.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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