'Female Sergeant Sexual Harassment' Sergeant Jang Indicted After 111 Days (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The perpetrator of the Air Force sexual harassment victim death case, Staff Sergeant Jang of the 20th Fighter Wing, was detained and indicted 111 days after the incident occurred.

On the 21st, the Ministry of National Defense announced, “On this day, the Ministry of National Defense prosecution team detained and indicted Staff Sergeant Jang of the 20th Fighter Wing at the Military Court on charges of forcible sexual assault causing injury and violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (retaliatory threats, etc.) in relation to the Air Force sexual harassment victim death case.”

The Military Prosecutor’s Investigation Review Committee, composed of civilian experts and others, held its second meeting on the 18th and recommended the detention and indictment of Staff Sergeant Jang on charges of forcible sexual assault causing injury. They also conveyed an additional opinion to the prosecution team that the case could fall under “retaliatory crimes” as defined by the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. This was based on circumstances suggesting that after the sexual harassment, Staff Sergeant Jang effectively threatened the victim, Sergeant Lee, by saying things like “I will kill myself.” The Ministry of National Defense prosecution team accepted the committee’s opinion.

Staff Sergeant Jang was detained on the 2nd for forcibly sexually assaulting Sergeant Lee, a junior non-commissioned officer in the same fighter wing, in the back seat of a vehicle on March 2nd, and his detention period was extended once. Sergeant Lee reported the incident and took a petition leave for about two months, then requested a transfer and moved to the 15th Fighter Wing.

However, just three days after the transfer, on the 21st of last month, she took a half-day leave and visited the 20th Fighter Wing dormitory where her boyfriend lived to register her marriage, and the next day, on the morning of the 22nd, she was found dead in the dormitory.

Meanwhile, the military prosecution conducted a search and seizure around 4 p.m. on the same day at the Public Affairs and Psychological Operations Office of the Air Force Headquarters, where it was found that personnel had contact with parties related to the case.