Police have referred Police Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho and the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Kim Bong-sik, to the prosecution for their alleged roles in the December 3 martial law incident. 

The police special investigation team said Friday that it handed over the cases with a recommendation to charge the nation’s top two police officials with playing critical roles in an insurrection. 

Kim is set to be transferred to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office before being put behind bars. 

Cho, meanwhile, is expected to stay at the National Police Hospital for the time being to continue treatment for blood cancer. 

Cho and Kim met with President Yoon Suk Yeol a few hours before he declared martial law on December 3 and received written instructions from him specifying which agencies were to be taken over under martial law. 

Police believe the two officials restricted entry to the National Assembly in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from voting to request that the president rescind his martial law declaration.