Im Seong-geun, the former commander of the 1st Marine Division, identified as a key person responsible in the death of Lance Cpl. Chae Su-geun, was arrested on the 24th. This is the first time the Marine Corps special counsel has secured the custody of a suspect.
Lee Jeong-jae, the Seoul Central District Court's warrant judge in charge, issued an arrest warrant for the former division commander early that morning, saying there was a concern that evidence could be destroyed.
However, the arrest warrant for Choi Jin-gyu, the former commander of the 11th Marine Artillery Battalion, was denied. Judge Lee said, "Considering the circumstances, including the current status of the investigation to date, it is difficult at this stage to recognize grounds or sufficient reason to detain the suspect."
Earlier, on the 21st, the special counsel requested arrest warrants for the former division commander Im and the former battalion commander Choi on charges of occupational negligence resulting in death. The former division commander Im was also charged with violating orders under the Military Criminal Act.
The former division commander Im is accused of ordering an underwater search without providing life jackets and other safety equipment during an operation to search for people swept away and missing in the Naeseongcheon area of Yecheon County, North Gyeongsang, in July 2023, causing the death of one Marine and injuries to other Marines (occupational negligence resulting in death and injury).
He is also accused of exercising command authority over the operation despite lacking operational control (violation of orders under Article 47 of the Military Criminal Act).
Meanwhile, an arrest warrant for former Minister of the Ministry of National Defense Lee Jong-seop, who underwent a detention review on the same day as the former division commander Im and others, was denied. The court said there is room to legally contest the main charges against the former minister.