Accra:Seoul A special counsel team conducted a raid on the home of former National Election Commission (NEC) chief Roh Tae-ak on Wednesday. The operation was part of an investigation into alleged improper overseas trips taken by Roh during his tenure.

According to Yonhap News Agency, investigators from special counsel Lee Tae-han's team seized a cell phone and other evidence from Roh's residence. Roh has been accused of using NEC funds to finance three overseas business trips that included his wife, during his time in office from May 2022 until June this year. He resigned following widespread ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections.

The raid was prompted by the discovery of falsehoods in official reports concerning the trips, which were authored by an NEC official. The search, which involved twelve personnel including two prosecutors and seven investigators, was conducted under a warrant listing charges of embezzlement and the falsification and use of official documents.

A prosecution-police task force had previously gathered evidence and testimony indicating that an NEC employee had been assigned to assist Roh's wife on the trips. However, the trip reports submitted by the employee claimed the attendance of official events with Roh.

This marks the first raid on Roh's home, although a separate search at the NEC headquarters was carried out earlier the same day. Roh, who was also a former Supreme Court justice, is under scrutiny as part of a broader investigation launched last month by the special counsel team, focusing on ballot shortages and other allegations of misconduct involving the NEC.