Police Officer Who Subdued Disorderly Drunkard Faces Trial on Assault Charges

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] A police officer who was accused of assault while restraining a drunken troublemaker is finally going to face trial.

According to the legal community on the 22nd, the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Byun Pilgeon) recently indicted Officer A without detention on charges of official assault under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. Official assault refers to a prosecutor or police officer abusing their authority to arrest or assault a suspect or subjecting them to harsh treatment.

Earlier, in September 2018, Officer A restrained and handcuffed Mr. B, a man in his 30s who was lying drunk near Sadang Station in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after Mr. B kicked and caused a disturbance while being woken up, with the help of fellow officers.

Subsequently, in May 2019, Mr. B filed a complaint with the Dongjak Police Station in Seoul, alleging that his ribs were broken due to police assault by Officer A and others. The police investigation concluded that there was no evidence of wrongdoing and forwarded the case to the prosecution with a recommendation for non-prosecution.

However, the prosecution, based on CCTV footage and other evidence from the time of the incident, determined that Officer A's official assault charges were valid. Meanwhile, the fellow officer who helped restrain Mr. B was cleared of charges.