On the morning of the 3rd, lawyer Lee Eun-ui is explaining the victim's position regarding the police decision not to prosecute following the death of the suspect in the sexual assault case involving a newly appointed lawyer at a law firm, at her legal office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. [Photo by Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The police have decided not to prosecute the law firm’s chief attorney who took his own life while under investigation for sexually assaulting a junior lawyer he worked with. The victim’s side plans to seek the prosecution’s opinion on the investigation results through an objection procedure.
According to the police investigation result notice disclosed on the 3rd by Lee Eun-ui, the victim’s legal representative, the Seoul Seocho Police Station decided last month on the 19th not to prosecute A, who died on May 26 while under investigation for rape and other charges involving abuse of power at work.
The police stated that A is accused of forcibly molesting the victim twice between March 31 and June 2 last year in the office and in a vehicle traveling between the office and the court. He is also accused of a total of 10 acts of molestation and rape, including four counts of molestation and four counts of rape by abuse of power at work.
The victim claimed that A had the authority to evaluate trainee lawyers and decide on their official employment, which prevented her from actively reporting or resisting. However, A admitted most of the sexual intercourse and physical contact during police questioning but insisted it was consensual. The victim’s boyfriend heard in May last year that "the chief touched her a lot, so she quit the company," and a colleague lawyer working together was also found to have heard about the victim’s ordeal between April and May last year.
Due to the impact of sexual violence, the victim received a total of 21 psychological counseling sessions and six psychiatric treatments. She also sent messages mentioning the harm to acquaintances and others.
The victim’s side plans to request the prosecution’s opinion on the investigation results. They stated, "The police did not include an opinion on whether to prosecute in the non-prosecution decision document, nor did they record whether or not additional victims were investigated or the results thereof. We appreciate that the Seocho Police Station detailed the investigation results in the non-prosecution decision document, but we plan to proceed with an objection procedure to seek the prosecution’s opinion by supplementing the regrettable parts of this case."
They added, "In cases of sexual violence where the suspect takes extreme measures, investigative agencies should not stop the investigation but do their best and share the meaning of informing the victim of the results." Furthermore, they said, "No lawyer organization, including the Korean Bar Association, raised their voice for the victim’s lonely journey. We hope that the entire process of this case will serve as an opportunity for self-reflection within the legal community, and we have decided not to seek further help from the Bar Association."
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