Hospital Deleted CCTV After Female Patient Was Sexually Assaulted in Psychiatric Hospital...

Hospital Administrator Denies Allegation of "Accidental Deletion"

Jeollabuk-do Provincial Police Agency. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Yeeun] A male patient who sexually assaulted a female patient at a psychiatric hospital in Jeonbuk has been referred to the prosecution. A hospital official who deleted the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the incident was also handed over to the prosecution.

On the 15th, the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency announced that they had sent Mr. A, in his 50s, to the prosecution without detention on charges of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.

Mr. A is accused of sexually assaulting a female patient who was alone in another ward at a psychiatric hospital in Jeonbuk last July.

At the time, four staff members, including nursing assistants, were working on the floor, but it is known that Mr. A entered the female patient’s room while they were occupied with other tasks. About 10 to 15 minutes later, the staff who realized the situation pulled Mr. A out.

Meanwhile, the police also sent Mr. B, a hospital manager in his 40s, to the prosecution without detention on charges of destroying evidence by deleting the CCTV footage related to the sexual assault.

Mr. B denies the charges, claiming he deleted the footage by mistake, but the police judged there was intent based on the fact that the footage could only be deleted by manipulating the device and that only specific videos were missing.

Additionally, the police sent an opinion to the local government where the hospital is located, stating that "it appears the hospital violated its reporting obligations despite knowing about the patient sexual assault incident."

The police reportedly confirmed the crime by restoring the deleted CCTV footage and other evidence.