The detention validity review procedure has begun for Yoo Byung-ho, an Audit Commissioner at the Board of Audit and Inspection who has been detained over allegations of a ‘go-easy audit’ regarding perks in the official residence relocation.

The Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Appellate Division 5-2 (Presiding Judge Kim Yong-jung) is conducting a hearing for Yoo’s detention validity review starting at 2:10 p.m. on the 6th.

A detention validity review is a procedure in which the court determines whether the detention of a suspect arrested at the investigation stage is lawful and whether there is a need to maintain the detention. Yoo filed for the review with the court on the 4th. He entered the courtroom at around 1:50 p.m.

Yoo is accused of improperly intervening to downplay and conceal audit findings related to the relocation of the presidential office and residence while serving as Secretary General of the Board of Audit and Inspection under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, on charges including abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights. During former President Yoon’s term, the presidential office was moved from the Blue House to the Ministry of National Defense compound in Yongsan, and the residence to the former official residence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Amid allegations over the selection of contractors and construction costs, the Board of Audit and Inspection conducted an audit in October 2022.

The Second Comprehensive Special Counsel, Kwon Chang-young, believes that during the audit Yoo gave the audit team a sort of guideline on how to conduct the investigation and on procedures for requesting materials. The audit team had sent documents to arrange in-person questioning of officials at firms involved in the work, including 21gram, but it has been found that Yoo had this withdrawn and ordered it changed to a written inquiry. 21gram sponsored exhibitions hosted by Covana Contents, run by Kim Keon-hee, and handled the design and construction of Covana Contents’ office. The company’s representative and spouse are known to have close ties with Kim.

During the special counsel’s investigation, it was also confirmed that Yoo referred to former President Yoon Suk-yeol as “the boss.” In a memo written in late May 2022, he is understood to have written, “To purge (the boss’s) opposition, authority is needed” and “I contacted the boss.” Regarding opposing forces, he is said to have written, “I will investigate them, grind them to the bone, put them into cement, and throw them into the sea.”

The special counsel requested an arrest warrant for Yoo on the 14th of last month, and the court issued the warrant on the 20th of the same month, citing “concern over destruction of evidence.” Yoo’s detention period was until the 29th of last month, but after the special counsel applied for an extension, it was extended to the 8th.

The result of Yoo’s detention validity review could come as early as this afternoon. Once the review result is issued, the special counsel plans to decide whether to indict.