Incumbent police officers accused of repeatedly assaulting a Chinese national they arrested on suspicion of stalking, then trying to cover up the assaults by using the person's unlawful stay as a pretext, have been indicted.
The Yeongwol Branch of the Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office said on the 3rd that it indicted without detention two officers with the Jeongseon Police Station on charges of abuse of authority by a public official and obstruction of the exercise of rights.
According to the indictment, they was found to have assaulted a Chinese national arrested in the act on suspicion of stalking. They then tried to prevent the assaults from coming to light by taking advantage of the fact that the victim was an unlawful resident, and ordered the case officer not to refer the case through formal procedures but to close it without opening a case. The case was closed internally at the police stage.
The investigation gained traction after a tip on the alleged assaults was filed with the prosecution. Through its own probe, including searches and seizures, prosecutors uncovered not only the alleged assaults but also the offense of abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights.
Prosecutors said, "We will do our utmost to sustain the charges so the defendants receive punishment commensurate with the severity of the offenses," adding, "We will also work to protect the human rights of those involved in cases by checking whether frontline police stations are properly following the procedures and measures for human rights protection required by law."