The special counsel investigating the insurrection case sought a five-year prison term for former Defense Intelligence Command chief Moon Sang-ho, who was indicted on charges of handing over a list of Defense Intelligence Command operatives to former Intelligence Command chief Noh Sang-won during the Dec. 3 martial law. The prosecution also asked the court to sentence former Central Newspaper Unit chief Kim Bong-gyu and former 100th Brigade 2nd Business Unit chief Jeong Seong-uk to five years in prison each on the same charges.
On the 15th, at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 26 (Presiding Judge Lee Hyun-kyung), the special counsel investigating the insurrection case made this sentencing request during the closing arguments in the trial of Moon and others on charges of violating the Military Criminal Act by leaking military secrets and violating the Personal Information Protection Act.
Moon and others are accused of conspiring with former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun to pass on to former commander Noh the names and other personal details of about 40 Intelligence Command operatives. The special counsel investigating the insurrection case believes the list was used to form the clandestine group "2nd Investigation Team" immediately after the Dec. 3 martial law declaration to occupy the National Election Commission and investigate alleged election fraud.
The special counsel investigating the insurrection case emphasized that former commander Noh was a civilian at the time without authorization to access military intelligence. Because Intelligence Command operatives often work under concealed identities, the point was that if the list is leaked externally, not only the operatives but also their families could be exposed to danger.
The special counsel investigating the insurrection case said, "The defendants forgot their duty even though they knew that operatives' personal information constituted military secrets and that the leak could cause serious consequences." It continued, "They treated their subordinates not as individuals to be protected but as tools to fulfill their lust for power, privatized the military organization, and undermined the foundations of democracy and the rule of law."
Regarding the sentencing recommendation, it explained that it considered the seriousness of the crime, the shock that the martial law situation inflicted on society, and the defendants' denial of the charges and lack of remorse.
Earlier, the special counsel investigating the insurrection case also sought a five-year prison term for former Minister Kim, who was indicted on the same charges. Former commander Noh, who was accused of receiving the list of Intelligence Command operatives from former Minister Kim, received a final sentence of two years in prison at the Supreme Court.