Taxi Driver Who Blocked Ambulance Ultimately Cleared of Charges... "Difficult to Prove Causality"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] A taxi driver who caused a nationwide outrage last year by deliberately causing an accident to block an ambulance transporting an emergency patient has ultimately been cleared of charges.

On the 24th, according to the police, the Gangdong Police Station in Seoul plans to dismiss charges against taxi driver Choi Mo (32), who faced nine allegations including murder, attempted murder, negligent homicide and injury, special assault resulting in death or injury, general traffic obstruction resulting in death or injury, and violations of the Emergency Medical Service Act.

The police reportedly judged, based on the Korean Medical Association’s expert opinion report, that there was insufficient causal relationship between Choi’s actions and the patient’s death. Earlier, the police had decided not to apply murder charges among the various allegations against Choi. However, the final conclusion was non-prosecution by the prosecution, and all other charges were also not recognized.

Previously, on June 8 of last year, Choi deliberately caused a collision with an ambulance carrying an emergency patient on a road in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, and obstructed its operation for about 10 minutes, saying, "If (the patient) dies, I will take responsibility."

According to the patient’s family, due to Choi’s actions, the 79-year-old stage 4 lung cancer patient in the ambulance missed the opportunity to be admitted to a negative pressure isolation room, and his condition worsened, resulting in his death on the day of the accident. The patient’s family filed a complaint against Choi in July last year on nine charges including murder, attempted murder, and negligent homicide and injury.

This case became widely known and sparked public outrage after the deceased patient’s son posted a petition on the Blue House website demanding punishment for Choi. The family is currently pursuing a lawsuit seeking damages for the mental suffering experienced by their family.

Separately from this case, Choi was arrested and prosecuted on charges including special property damage, obstruction of business, and fraud for collecting settlement money totaling about 21.5 million won by exploiting minor collisions while driving charter buses, company taxis, and trucks over five years since 2015. He was sentenced to 1 year and 10 months in prison in the appeal trial last month and is currently serving his sentence.