Prosecution Detains Jo Joo-bin at Seoul Detention Center After 10-Hour Interrogation
Confirms Facts Related to Telegram 'Baksa Bang' Charges
12 Charges... 12,000 Pages of Investigation Records
Second Interrogation Scheduled from Tomorrow Morning
Jo Joo-bin, the operator of the 'Doctor's Room' who threatened dozens of women including minors on the internet messenger Telegram and forced them to film obscene materials which he then distributed, is coming out of Jongno Police Station in Seoul on the morning of the 25th to be sent to the prosecution. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Jo Joo-bin (24), the main culprit of the so-called 'Nth Room case' who produced and distributed illegal sexual exploitation materials on Telegram, returned to the detention center on the 26th after a 10-hour investigation by the prosecution. Jo did not exercise his right to remain silent during the investigation that day.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's Women and Children Crime Investigation Division (Chief Prosecutor Yoo Hyun-jung) summoned Jo as a suspect from 10:20 a.m. and investigated him for 10 hours. This was the first investigation since he was transferred in custody by the police the previous day.
During the investigation, the prosecution conducted a basic admission interrogation covering his background, life before the crime, and the overall details of the charges. Based on the investigation records transferred from the police, the prosecution re-verified facts related to the operation of the Telegram 'Baksa-bang' and sent Jo back to Seoul Detention Center around 8:20 p.m.
The investigation was conducted without the participation of a defense attorney. The law firm Oh Hyun, which represented Jo during the police investigation stage, submitted a letter of withdrawal the day before. It has not yet been decided whether additional defense counsel will be appointed. Jo also did not express any separate intention regarding the appointment of a defense attorney.
Jo Joo-bin, the operator of the 'Doctor's Room' who threatened dozens of women including minors on the internet messenger Telegram and forced them to film obscene materials which he then distributed, is coming out of Jongno Police Station in Seoul on the morning of the 25th to be sent to the prosecution. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@
The prosecution informed Jo in the morning about the receipt of the defense attorney's withdrawal letter and gave him an opportunity to meet with a lawyer before the investigation. Jo expressed his intention to be investigated without a defense attorney, so the interrogation proceeded as scheduled.
The police applied a total of 12 charges when transferring Jo to the prosecution. The investigation records, including separate volumes, amount to 38 volumes totaling about 12,000 pages.
The prosecution plans to summon Jo again from the morning of the 27th for additional investigation. Jo is currently reported to be in good health and has no major issues with detention life.
The prosecution intends to conduct supplementary investigations on Jo for up to 20 days, including one extension of the detention period, before sending him to trial.
Jo is accused of luring victims with part-time job offers, obtaining nude photos showing their faces, then threatening them to film sexual exploitation materials and distributing them in the Baksa-bang.
Jo Joo-bin, the operator of the 'Doctor's Room' who threatened dozens of women including minors on the internet messenger Telegram and forced them to film obscene materials which he then distributed, is coming out of Jongno Police Station in Seoul on the morning of the 25th to be sent to the prosecution. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
The police applied charges including violation of the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse (production of child pornography), violation of the Sexual Violence Punishment Act (filming using cameras, etc.), forcible molestation, threats, coercion, fraud, and violation of the Personal Information Protection Act when transferring Jo to the prosecution. So far, the police have identified 74 victims related to this case, 16 of whom are minors.
On the day of transfer, the prosecution formed a 'Digital Sex Crime Special Investigation Task Force (TF)' and announced that it would strictly handle various digital sex crime cases, including Jo's case.
The prosecution also plans to investigate Jo's accomplices and related parties under a zero-tolerance policy. Prior to Jo, the prosecution indicted four accomplices, including Cheon Mo (29), a public official at Geoje City Hall, who were confirmed to have participated in operating the 'Baksa-bang.' However, it is known that the charges against them do not specifically include a conspiracy relationship with Jo in operating the 'Baksa-bang.'
Among the accomplices is a 16-year-old boy named Lee Mo, who is accused of creating a chat room called 'Taepyeongyang Expedition Team' and distributing sexual exploitation materials. The prosecution indicted Lee on the 5th of this month on charges of producing and distributing obscene materials under the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse. The first trial date was set for the 30th by Judge Oh Deok-sik of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 20, but the prosecution filed a request for postponement on that day.
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