[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] At Busan Station, a man in his 30s was mistaken for a suspect in a violent crime, beaten indiscriminately by police officers, and even hit with a taser, causing him to lose consciousness.
The police chasing the suspect attempted to forcibly arrest the man without verifying his identity, simply because he resembled the suspect.
According to the police and local media on the 6th, on the night of April 25 last year, around 11 p.m., detectives from a police station in Jeonbuk pursuing a Vietnamese murder suspect, along with Busan police who had been requested to cooperate, mistakenly subdued Mr. A at Busan Station.
The police did not verify Mr. A’s identity, who had no connection to the case. They followed Mr. A off the train and, startled by their pursuit, he tried to avoid them, but they recklessly attacked him, kicking and stomping him violently.
About ten police officers who joined the cooperation quickly escalated the situation by firing a taser and handcuffing him. It is reported that they did not inform him of the Miranda rights, which must be observed when arresting a suspect.
The reckless assault by the police at the time was captured almost entirely on Busan Station CCTV footage, except for some blind spots.
Mr. A suffered a broken nasal bone and injuries all over his body, including his neck, and was diagnosed with a four-week recovery period. He is still receiving psychiatric treatment and is reportedly suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
A police official stated, “We received intelligence that the suspect had been in Busan after a long-term pursuit and, while lying in wait at Busan Station, mistakenly confused Mr. A with the suspect due to his appearance.” They said they forcibly subdued him because they judged he was attempting to flee.
The police apologized for the mistake at the scene and stated that they plan to provide compensation if the victim requests it.
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