Investigation Into 'Ballot Shortage' Reporting Chain and 'Overseas Junket' Allegations

[Anchor]

A joint investigation team of prosecutors and police, tasked with uncovering the truth behind the ballot paper shortage, is verifying the reporting chain among National Election Commission (NEC) officials at the time. The investigation is also expanding into allegations of overseas junkets involving former NEC Chairperson Noh Tae-ak and other commission officials.

Reporter Jeon Yeonnam has the story.

[Reporter]

The joint investigation team summoned one official from the Gangnam-gu Election Commission and two from the Seocho-gu Election Commission as witnesses for questioning this morning, July 1.

These individuals are the working-level staff who received reports on the situation from the polling stations where the ballot shortage occurred.

Based on today's questioning, the joint investigation team plans to focus on identifying how the shortage was reported, the channels through which it was communicated to the city election commission and others, and what instructions were given in response.

Previously, on June 24, the joint investigation team secured mobile phones and other items through search and seizure operations targeting 12 NEC officials.

The investigation into allegations of overseas junkets by former Central Election Commission Chairperson Noh Tae-ak and others has also begun in earnest.

Former Chairperson Noh went on three overseas business trips to countries including Germany and Sweden accompanied by his spouse. However, these facts were not recorded in the NEC's post-trip reports, leading to allegations of embezzlement.

Following the questioning of the complainant regarding these allegations yesterday, June 30, the joint investigation team plans to question a People Power Party official who filed a complaint on the same charges tomorrow, July 2.

[Lee Sang-hwi/People Power Party Lawmaker (June 17): We are filing this complaint to hold them accountable for wasting taxpayer money through professional embezzlement, in response to the behavior of the Central Election Commission regarding these overseas junkets.]

The joint investigation team, which has received an additional five police personnel, is expanding its investigative capacity by requesting accounting analysis experts from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to thoroughly examine the embezzlement allegations.

(Video Editing: Kim Jun-hee)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.