(MENAFN) South Korea’s ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, along with five past high-ranking officials, has been formally charged in connection with former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup’s journey to Australia last year, according to a statement released Thursday by a special counsel team.

Prosecutors allege that Yoon directed Lee’s November 2023 appointment as ambassador to Australia as a way to shield him from scrutiny over his supposed involvement in a military inquiry into a Marine’s death earlier that year.

Yoon now faces accusations of facilitating Lee’s departure from the country, misusing his authority, and breaching the State Public Officials Act.

Investigators also contend that Yoon engineered Lee’s diplomatic post to hinder the momentum of the probe into the Marine’s death and divert attention away from himself.

The special counsel team, led by Lee Myeong-hyeon, has been examining assertions that Lee escaped to Australia in March of last year to evade investigators.

Authorities suspect that the presidential Office of National Security, the Foreign Ministry, and the Justice Ministry coordinated Lee’s assignment and his overseas exit under Yoon’s alleged direction.

Only four days after Lee received his appointment, his travel restriction was lifted, enabling him to board a flight to Australia soon after.

He returned 11 days later as public criticism intensified.

Among those also charged are former National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong, former First Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin, former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae, and two additional individuals connected to the case.

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