BAI Investigates Government Truth Finders’ Anti-Impeachment Statement.

The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) launched probes into the Presidential Truth Commission on Suspicious Deaths on March 20, following the commission’s statement criticizing the impeachment of President Roh Moo-hyun

The probes, instructed by acting president Goh Kun, will result in heavy discipline against key players who led the statement.

“When public servants who should remain politically neutral ahead of elections broke the neutrality and announced a biased statement, they violated the civil servant law,” said a BAI official. “The probes will reveal how the statement was made and who led it.”

The BAI concluded that the statement is in breach of Article 65 and 66 of the civil servant law banning collective action.

The perpetuators will face not just discipline but also criminal charges.

The BAI sent a team of four inspectors led by Won Yu-seung, director of Special Bureau One to the commission and presented a notice of special probe signed by BAI Chairman Jeon Yun-churl on March 20.

“Collective action by public servants ahead of elections is not appropriate” Goh said through his publicity secretary Kim Deok-bong.

Young-Hae Choi yhchoi65@donga.com