Audit over 'West Sea Shooting' Suspected of Leaking Military Secrets... Police Raid Board of Audit and Inspection

[Financial News] The police have launched a compulsory investigation into the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) over allegations that military secrets were leaked during the audit of the West Sea civil servant shooting case.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit stated that it began executing a search and seizure warrant on the BAI at around 11 a.m. on the 3rd. The raid is aimed at securing materials related to a case in which the BAI's Operational Reform Task Force (TF) filed a criminal complaint last November against former Auditor General Choi Jae-hae and others on suspicion of violating the Protection of Military Secrets Act.
Previously, the BAI Operational Reform TF announced investigation findings that, during audits conducted under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration into the West Sea civil servant shooting case and the withdrawal of guard posts (GPs), military secrets had been disclosed without going through proper security procedures. Acting in the name of the BAI, the TF filed a complaint with the police against seven former and current senior officials, including former Auditor General Choi Jae-hae and audit commissioner Yoo Byung-ho, on charges of violating the Protection of Military Secrets Act.
According to the TF’s findings, during the audit of the West Sea civil servant shooting case, materials classified as a "Level-II military secret" were distributed in the form of a press release without any security review. It also found indications that additional materials were disclosed even after the audit committee had decided not to make the audit results public. In relation to the GP withdrawal audit, the TF concluded that military secrets had been passed to outside parties in a similar manner.
After receiving the complaint, the police booked the seven individuals, including former Auditor General Choi and audit commissioner Yoo, as suspects and are investigating them. In the case of Commissioner Yoo, he has also been separately accused of abuse of authority and obstruction of official duties for allegedly ordering inspections and forced leave against staff members whose views differed from his own.
A police official stated, "Based on the materials we secure, we will conduct a rigorous investigation of those involved in strict accordance with the law and principles."

425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter