Justice chief confirms probe into former intelligence head over testimony

The country’s attorney general has reportedly confirmed that the justice department received a criminal referral alleging that a former intelligence chief committed perjury during legislative testimony, according to statements made during a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday.

The confirmation came during questioning by the chairman of the lower chamber’s judiciary committee, who directly pressed the justice chief about whether the former intelligence director would face criminal charges. The department has allegedly been investigating the former official and several others for months over their roles in a controversial 2016 investigation into alleged foreign interference.

“What I can confirm is that we have received a referral from you, Chairman, to investigate [the former intelligence director],” the attorney general reportedly stated, though she declined to provide specifics about any pending investigation.

The criminal referral, sent to the justice department in October, reportedly centers on the former intelligence chief’s testimony regarding a disputed intelligence document containing unverified claims about the current head of state. Critics have long alleged that this document played an inappropriate role in an intelligence assessment conducted during the previous administration regarding foreign interference in the 2016 election.

Observers note that the investigation reflects ongoing tensions over the nation’s handling of allegations about foreign election interference, with the ruling party maintaining that previous investigations were politically motivated attempts to undermine the current leader’s legitimacy.

A grand jury has reportedly subpoenaed the former intelligence director and several former federal law enforcement officials as part of the investigation. The subpoenas originated from a court in a southern region, leading the former official’s legal representatives to allegedly accuse the justice department of seeking favorable judicial venues.

Opposition lawmakers in the chamber criticized the proceedings, with one representative suggesting that any prosecution decisions would likely be influenced by the head of state’s previous public statements about targeting political adversaries.

The current leader has previously characterized former intelligence and law enforcement officials involved in the 2016 investigation as “dishonest” and “crooked,” suggesting they “maybe have to pay a price” for their actions, according to previous media reports.

The matter continues a pattern of post-election recriminations that observers say has become characteristic of the nation’s increasingly polarized political system, where investigations into previous administrations’ conduct have become routine following changes in power.