The prosecution raided the National Intelligence Service Tuesday as part of its widening probe into the agency’s alleged politicking in the presidential election last year. It was the second time in history for the top spy agency to undergo a search and seizure.
The prosecution’s move came a day after former NIS chief Won Sei-hoon was questioned for more than 14 hours for his alleged role in the scandal.
A team of 25 prosecutors reportedly seized relevant documents, digital files, and hard disks from the office used by the psychological operations bureau, which is accused of playing a major role in online smear campaigns against opposition politicians during the election period.
“The investigation will pick up the pace if enough evidence necessary to prove the allegation is secured,” an official from the prosecution said.
The psychological operations bureau was known to have been disbanded right after the new chief of the NIS took the office in March.
Some NIS agents of the bureau allegedly conducted the operations in which they posted online comments about presidential candidates in the run up to the Dec. 19 election in an attempt to influence public opinion.
The prosecution is investigating NIS agents’ other allegations such as hiring civilians and utilizing more than 100 email addresses and mobile phone numbers during the online smear campaign.
It is reported that the new NIS chief Nam Jae-joon approved the prosecution’s raid.
The NIS has the right to turn down a search and seizure for security reasons under the law.
In 2005, prosecutors raided the agency, then called the National Security Planning Agency, to secure evidence of wiretapping against 1,800 politicians, public officials, entrepreneurs and journalists from 1994 to 1997 under the Kim Young-sam administration.
Meanwhile, former NIS chief Won, who has been banned from leaving the country pending investigation since last month, is expected to be summoned again for further questioning.
Last year, the Democratic United Party, which first raised the allegation of the illegal political intervention, filed a complaint against the former NIS chief.
By Kim Young-won (
wone0102@heraldcorp.com)
