The head of Saekdongwon, a residential facility for people with severe developmental disabilities, has been indicted and will stand trial in detention on charges of sexually abusing residents.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Women and Children Crime Investigation Division 1 (Director General Jeong Hee-seon) said on the 19th that it indicted Saekdongwon director A, who was arrested, on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (rape causing injury) and the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, among others.
According to prosecutors, A is accused of raping three people with disabilities, including raping and injuring one victim with a severe disability who was using Saekdongwon, and of repeatedly assaulting one person with a disability with a drumstick. Prosecutors said they also uncovered additional suspected rapes by A during the investigation.
A was arrested on the 19th of last month on suspicion of violating the Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes and the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, among others, and was sent to the prosecution on the 27th of last month. A asked the court to reassess the legality of the detention, but the request was dismissed at a detention review held the day before.
Prosecutors said that even before the case was sent to them, they formed a "Saekdongwon task force" and deployed investigators specializing in women and children crimes. They also said they secured additional medical records of the victims and personally attended the pre-arrest suspect questioning (warrant review) to actively argue the necessity of detaining A.
A prosecution official said, "We will respond sternly to crimes targeting socially vulnerable people and work closely with related agencies," adding, "We will pay attention to victims who are socially vulnerable and take active measures to ensure practical support for the damage."