Non-commissioned officer facing trial for assault on female junior sergeant dies on Ministry of National Defense premises

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] An incident occurred in which an Air Force non-commissioned officer awaiting trial in a pre-trial detention facility within the Ministry of National Defense premises died. While there have been cases of extreme choices made in field unit detention facilities, this is the first such incident in a pre-trial detention facility within the Ministry of National Defense premises.

According to Rep. Shin Won-sik of the National Defense Committee and the Ministry of National Defense on the 26th, regarding the death of Sergeant Lee, a female Air Force member who was a victim of sexual harassment, Air Force NCO A, who was detained in the pre-trial detention facility of the Support Unit near the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan, Seoul, was found unconscious in the restroom at around 2:55 PM the previous day. NCO A was transported to a nearby civilian general hospital but died at 4:22 PM. NCO A, who was indicted and detained on the 30th of last month, was the superior of Sergeant Lee, who made an extreme choice due to sexual harassment, and was scheduled for the first trial on the 6th of next month.

The pre-trial detention facility of the Ministry of National Defense Support Unit is known to have several solitary cells, each equipped with a restroom. It is reported that NCO A was detained in a solitary cell. Military police who monitor the detention facility are stationed on-site, and CCTV is also installed. Military police conduct regular patrols and follow procedures to enter the room to check if the detainee is not visible. At this time, the restroom inside the solitary cell must also be inspected.

In the case of NCO A, it is known that the military police discovered him during the process of entering the room and checking the restroom after he was not visible inside the room.

However, whether the military police strictly adhered to the patrol times and the times for checking detainees inside the rooms must be clarified through further investigation. It is difficult for a detainee to become unconscious inside the restroom within a short period.

With the death of NCO A, the investigation into the causes leading to Sergeant Lee’s death, including secondary harm and threats, is expected to face difficulties. The level of secondary harm is anticipated to be revealed during the trial process starting on the 6th of next month.

This is the first time a defendant has died in a facility within the Ministry of National Defense premises, so criticism regarding negligence in management and the responsibility of the Minister of National Defense is expected to intensify. There are also opinions that Minister Seo Wook, who took office in September last year, has been further cornered by this incident.

He has apologized to the public six times for incidents including the failure to guard against North Korean defectors (February 17), controversies over poor meals and excessive quarantine measures (April 28), the death of a female Air Force sergeant (June 9 and 10, July 7), and the group infection incident of the 34th Cheonghae Unit (20th). Attention is focused on what stance he will take regarding the accident that occurred in the pre-trial detention facility just about 600 meters from his office.