Seoul: A special counsel team on Friday sought an arrest warrant for Cho Tae-yong, a former chief of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), over his alleged role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed imposition of martial law.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the special counsel team investigating various allegations related to the martial law bid filed for the warrant earlier in the day on charges of violation of the National Intelligence Service Korea Act and dereliction of duty, among others. Cho, who was known as a trusted confidant of Yoon, is accused of being involved in the entire situation before and after martial law. He was reportedly summoned to the presidential office at around 9 p.m. on Dec. 3 and informed that Yoon was planning to declare martial law.

The special counsel team claims that Cho neglected his duties by failing to report the martial law plan to the National Assembly before Yoon’s televised address to the nation. The NIS Act obliges its director to report to the National Assembly, as well as to the president, if a situation that has a significant impact on national security arises.

The special counsel team also believes Cho falsely testified at the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court by claiming that he did not see the martial law decree or other relevant documents at the presidential office and that he did not witness Cabinet members receiving the documents. CCTV footage later showed Cabinet members receiving what appeared to be such documents at the presidential office, with Cho taking one of the documents.

A Seoul court will hold a hearing Tuesday to determine whether to issue an arrest warrant for Cho.