Detained Only on Evidence Tampering Charges... Special Investigation Unit's Probe Inevitably Disrupted (Comprehensive Report 2)

Former Yongsan Police Chief (Senior Superintendent) Lee Im-jae, who was charged with a warrant over the inadequate response to the Itaewon disaster and allegations of deleting information reports, is leaving the court after completing the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant review) at the Western District Court in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 5th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Park Seong-min, former head of the Public Safety Information and Foreign Affairs Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, who had been under investigation for allegations of deleting information reports related to the Itaewon disaster, was detained on the 5th. Meanwhile, Lee Im-jae, former chief of the Yongsan Police Station and a key suspect, avoided detention. It is assessed that the momentum of the investigation by the Police Agency's Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Unit) into the Itaewon disaster will inevitably face setbacks.

Kim Yumi, the judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Western District Court, held a pre-arrest hearing (warrant review) for former head Park in the afternoon and issued an arrest warrant. The judge also issued an arrest warrant for Kim Jin-ho, former head of the Intelligence Division at Yongsan Police Station. However, the warrants requested for former chief Lee and Song Byung-joo, former head of the 112 Situation Room at Yongsan Police Station, were dismissed.

The judge stated regarding former chief Lee and former head Song, "Based on the materials submitted at this stage, it is difficult to recognize the grounds and substantiality for detention due to concerns of evidence destruction or flight risk, and sufficient defense rights for the suspects are necessary." Regarding former head Park and former head Kim, the judge noted "there is a concern of evidence destruction."

Earlier, the Special Investigation Unit applied for arrest warrants on the 1st, charging former chief Lee and former head Song with professional negligence causing death or injury, and former heads Park and Kim with instructing evidence destruction.

According to the Special Investigation Unit, former chief Lee is suspected of failing to take prior measures despite the clear expectation of crowds during Halloween and arriving late at the scene, resulting in delayed response. Former head Song is suspected of failing to properly command police response at the early stage of the disaster, which increased casualties. He is also suspected of fabricating a situation report stating that former chief Lee arrived at the scene around 10:20 PM immediately after the disaster.

Former head Park is suspected of ordering the deletion of a risk analysis information report prepared during the Halloween period in a chatroom where intelligence division heads from frontline police stations in Seoul gathered after the disaster. The Special Investigation Unit believes former head Kim persuaded staff to delete the report under former head Park's instructions.

The court's issuance of warrants on this day was limited to suspects charged with evidence destruction. While the Special Investigation Unit sufficiently demonstrated the criminal facts, which is the primary condition for detention, it failed to appeal the necessity of detention for former chief Lee and former head Song, whose warrants were dismissed.

On the 5th, Park Seong-min, former Chief of the Public Safety Information and Foreign Affairs Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (Senior Superintendent), entered the Seoul Western District Court for the pre-arrest detention hearing of four police executives who were issued arrest warrants over allegations of inadequate response to the Itaewon disaster and deletion of information reports. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Under the Criminal Procedure Act, detention during investigation is only possible when extreme necessity is recognized. This applies when the criminal facts are established and there is a risk of evidence destruction or flight. However, with half of the warrants requested for the suspects dismissed on this day, the Special Investigation Unit faces criticism that its approach of applying for warrants for most police executives initially booked in the investigation was excessive or merely for show.

On the other hand, with some suspects' warrants dismissed on this day, the Special Investigation Unit's investigation inevitably faces some setbacks. Since securing custody of key suspects failed, future investigations without detention are unavoidable, which will significantly slow the pace as additional investigation schedules must be coordinated each time. The Special Investigation Unit stated, "We respect the court's decision" and "We will analyze the reasons for dismissal and decide whether to reapply."