Roh Tae-ak, former National Election Commission chairperson, has been placed under a travel ban in connection with the June 3 local elections "ballot paper shortage incident."
According to legal sources on the 12th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's major crime unit participating in the joint police-prosecution investigation headquarters requested a travel ban on the former chairperson Roh and former National Election Commission Secretary-General Hur Chul-hoon the previous day, and the Ministry of Justice accepted it.
Earlier, police booked Roh, the former chairperson, and about 10 others on charges including dereliction of duty and violations of the Public Official Election Act in connection with the ballot paper shortage incident.
The joint investigation headquarters conducted searches and seizures the previous day at seven locations, including the National Election Commission in Gwacheon, the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission, and the district commissions in Songpa, Seocho, Gangnam, Gwangjin, and Dongjak, on charges including violations of the Public Official Election Act, dereliction of duty, and occupational embezzlement and breach of trust.
The joint investigation headquarters is said to have secured the ballot paper printing plans prepared during the election preparation process, meeting minutes, budget documents, and files related to the local elections. Ballot records noting the storage locations, quantities, and remaining counts of ballot papers on election day were also included among the items seized.
The joint investigation headquarters is expected to begin a full-fledged probe as soon as office space is set up at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and it receives police personnel and materials. After summoning working-level officials at regional election commissions, the investigation is also expected to extend to the higher-ups, including Roh, the former chairperson.