Special Investigation Team for the Late Sergeant Lee Yeram, Arrest Warrant for Air Force Public Affairs Officer During Ministry of National Defense Investigation

Defamation of a Lion and Allegations of Official Secrets Disclosure

Special Investigation Team for Sergeant Lee Ye-ram. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] On the 15th, the special prosecution team led by Ahn Mi-young (56, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 25), investigating the death of Air Force Sergeant Lee Ye-ram, a victim of sexual violence, requested an arrest warrant for Air Force officer A, a field-grade officer who handled public relations duties for the Air Force during the Ministry of National Defense investigation, on charges including defamation of Sergeant Lee's honor and leaking investigation materials.

The special prosecution team announced that they filed a pre-arrest warrant request on the same day against officer A, affiliated with the Public Relations and Psychological Operations Office of the Air Force Headquarters, on charges of defamation of the deceased and official secret leakage.

According to the special prosecution team, after Sergeant Lee's death, multiple media reports raised suspicions of the Air Force's cover-up of the incident and the possibility of the Air Force Chief of Staff's dismissal due to command responsibility. Facing unfavorable public opinion, officer A, as the person in charge of the Air Force's public relations, is suspected of arbitrarily distorting the cause of Sergeant Lee's death to reverse the negative public sentiment and prevent the resignation of the Air Force Chief of Staff. Along with this, officer A is also accused of leaking key evidence and detailed investigation information.

The special prosecution team stated that officer A's actions constitute serious secondary harm (Nth-degree victimization) to Sergeant Lee and her bereaved family, as well as a grave crime involving the leakage of evidence and investigation details under the guise of public relations duties.

Additionally, the special prosecution team added that during the investigation process, officer A showed signs of attempting to destroy evidence, making detention and investigation absolutely necessary.

A special prosecution official said, "Investigations into other illegal acts related to concealment, cover-up, coercion, dereliction of duty, and abuse of authority by those subject to the special prosecution's investigation will continue to be conducted strictly."

The pre-arrest detention hearing for officer A is scheduled to be held on the morning of the 17th at the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Kim Sang-woo, who is in charge of warrants.