Joint investigative team bans former election chief from leaving country

A joint police-prosecution investigative team probing the ballot shortage that marred the June 3 local elections has banned former National Election Commission Chairman Noh Tae-ak and other officials from leaving the country.

The Ministry of Justice issued the travel bans at the team's request, barring Noh, former NEC Secretary General Heo Cheol-hun and roughly 10 other NEC officials from departing South Korea, according to Yonhap News Agency. Noh, Heo and the other officials are suspects facing charges of violating the Public Official Election Act and dereliction of duty in connection with the ballot shortage.

On Thursday, the joint team raided seven locations — the NEC headquarters in Gwacheon, the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission, and the district election commissions in Songpa, Seocho, Gangnam, Gwangjin and Dongjak-gu, where the ballot shortages occurred — on suspicion of violating the Public Official Election Act, dereliction of duty, and embezzlement and breach of trust.

Investigators secured ballot printing plans, meeting minutes, budget documents and election-related files prepared during the election preparation process. Voting records detailing the storage locations, quantities and remaining counts of ballots on election day were also among the seized materials.

Searches have been completed at most locations, with the exception of the NEC's server. The team plans to analyze the seized materials to examine the decision-making process and rationale behind ballot printing ahead of the election, as well as the specific communications exchanged between polling stations and election commissions on election day.

The joint team, based at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, is expected to question working-level officials at regional election commissions before moving up the chain to investigate Noh and other senior figures.