'Political Involvement Suspicion' Former Gihmusa Commander Jo Hyun-cheon Granted Bail

The court accepted the bail application filed by former Commander Cho Hyun-cheon of the Military Security Command (now the Defense Counterintelligence Command), who was indicted and detained on charges including political involvement.

Former Defense Security Command Commander Cho Hyun-cheon was escorted to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office after arriving at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 on the morning of March 29.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Judge Kim Yu-mi of the Criminal Division 6 at the Seoul Western District Court announced on the 28th that she approved the bail request submitted by former Commander Cho. The conditions for granting bail included submitting a pledge not to evade trial or destroy evidence, residence restrictions, and payment of a 50 million won deposit. Of the 50 million won deposit, 20 million won can be replaced with a guarantee certificate.

Former Commander Cho is accused of ordering his subordinates to prepare reports related to the 2016 election of the chairman of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and mobilizing Military Security Command agents to hold rallies supporting former President Park Geun-hye. The prosecution arrested Cho at the airport upon his return from the United States on March 29 and obtained an arrest warrant.

The prosecution indicted former Commander Cho on charges including political involvement under the Military Criminal Act and embezzlement in the course of duty, and continues to investigate allegations related to the martial law documents. He is suspected of having formed a "Martial Law Document Task Force (TF)" in February 2017, during the impeachment trial of former President Park, ordering the preparation of martial law review documents, and reporting these documents to then Minister of National Defense Han Min-gu and others.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.