Inspector A of South Gyeongsang Provincial Police faces charges of disclosing official secrets

Police say case is in early stages, details difficult to confirm officially

South Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency [Herald DB]
South Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency [Herald DB]

A senior investigator at the South Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency has been placed on administrative leave over allegations of leaking investigation information related to election law violations from the June 3 local elections, it emerged Thursday.

According to the South Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency, Inspector A, attached to the anti-corruption and financial crimes investigation unit, was placed on leave late last month on suspicion of disclosing official secrets, and authorities are looking into the circumstances.

Inspector A is suspected of leaking investigation information about a local government head booked on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act to a third party. Police detected the alleged conduct while conducting a forensic examination of a mobile phone belonging to a person connected to the case. Inspector A had been in charge of investigating election law violations from the June 3 local elections and is strongly denying the allegations.

The allegations have surfaced with roughly a month remaining before the statute of limitations expires on the election law violation cases, raising concerns about the fairness of the investigation.

A police official said the matter was "in its early stages, with the investigation to be conducted by another agency under the direction of the National Investigation Headquarters," adding that it was difficult to officially confirm specific facts or details of the case due to concerns about identifying the individual involved. The official added that the administrative leave was confirmed and that authorities planned to take strict action depending on the outcome of the investigation.


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