An incumbent police official has been sent to trial on charges of ordering the destruction of evidence to cover up a drunk driving case involving a junior from his university who is now a lawyer and a former police officer. Prosecutors established intent through direct supplemental investigation, including a vehicle operation demonstration.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Criminal Division 7 (Chief Prosecutor Cho Yoon-cheol) on the 18th indicted incumbent Inspector A without detention on charges of inciting destruction of evidence, lawyer B, a former police officer, on charges of drunk driving, and C on charges of destruction of evidence for disposing of the black box memory card on Inspector A's orders.
According to prosecutors, the case unfolded in July 2024 after the three had drinks together. Lawyer B is a junior from Inspector A's university, and C is B's high school friend. After the gathering, lawyer B left first and drove the vehicle, and Inspector A was found to have instructed C to dispose of the vehicle's black box memory card.
During the investigation, B claimed the imported car's auto-hold (electronic automatic parking brake) function caused the vehicle to move on its own.
However, prosecutors confirmed through on-site closed-circuit (CC)TV footage that the vehicle's brake lights were illuminated at the time. Prosecutors conducted an operation demonstration with the same model of imported car and found that the brake lights do not flash without deliberate operation such as pressing the brake pedal. They established intent to drive under the influence.
Inspector A also denied the charges, saying no order was given to dispose of the black box memory card.
Prosecutors then reviewed the site CCTV and the black box audio file from the taxi Inspector A took. Through this, they confirmed statements in which Inspector A, after directing C at the scene, said, "Break the drunk driving vehicle's black box and say a substitute driver was at the wheel."
A Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office official said, "This case was indicted after clearly proving the charges through direct supplemental investigation," adding, "We will continue to respond strictly so that offenders who undermine judicial order receive punishment commensurate with their crimes."