As the joint investigation team of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office released interim findings saying most of the allegations of outside pressure on customs' drug investigations were groundless, Police Inspector Baek Hae-ryong, who raised the allegations, disclosed a draft of the on-site verification report against Malaysian national drug couriers.
Baek said in a press notice on the 10th that "the joint investigation team is distorting the facts with portions of the live-scene investigation video," and released the draft report. The document disclosed totals 89 pages and contains the on-site verification conducted over two days on Nov. 10 and 13, 2023.
However, it did not include the Sept. 22, 2023 live-scene investigation cited by the joint investigation team as the basis for clearing the case.
The joint investigation team confirmed scenes in which Malaysian drug courier A and others took advantage of the fact that only a Chinese interpreter was present at the investigation site at the time and coordinated their statements in Malay. They said, "Just act," and "Don't tell the truth, just follow me and say we went out this way."
Baek said the on-site verification led by A could not be trusted and that five rounds of on-site verification were conducted. Baek added, "In the initial live-scene investigation, A pressured and coaxed (the other couriers) and later guided them during on-site verification, and I watched this and did not stop it," and said, "In the end, the finalized on-site verification identified the facts and individuals each person experienced without yielding to A's inducement or collusion."
However, contrary to Baek's explanation, the joint investigation team confirmed that in a letter A sent to another courier last year, A wrote, "Regarding customs, I already said I don't remember, but a police officer said there was already a statement, so I couldn't change it," and "Nothing will happen."
As Baek pushes back against the joint investigation team's interim findings, Lim Eun-jeong, chief prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, said the previous day, "We must distinguish feelings and speculation from facts."
Lim said on social media that "since arriving at the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, I have come across several claims by Inspector Baek that differ from the facts," and added, "I will carefully review the records to avoid repeating mistakes and errors like those seen in the 2023 Incheon Airport live-scene investigation video."