Prosecutors Conduct Raids at Over 10 Locations Including Chungbuk Police Agency in Osong 'Underpass Disaster' Case

Prosecutors' Investigation Headquarters Deploys 17 Prosecutors... Comprehensive Search and Seizure at Chungbuk Provincial Office and Others

Four days after forming an investigation headquarters to probe suspicions of false reporting by the police regarding the Osong underpass flooding accident, the prosecution has launched a forced investigation.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The prosecution investigation headquarters (headed by Bae Yong-won, Chief Prosecutor of Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office) is conducting raids on more than 10 locations on the 24th, including the Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency, Chungbuk Provincial Government, Cheongju City Hall, Happy City Hall, Chungbuk Fire Headquarters, Heungdeok District Office, and Heungdeok Police Station, in connection with the Osong underpass flooding accident.

The investigation headquarters formed a command line with Jeong Hee-do, Director of Inspection Division 1 at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, as deputy head, and Jo Gwang-hwan, Head of the Major Crime Investigation Department at Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, as team leader. They deployed a total of 17 prosecutors across three teams, staffed with personnel experienced in disaster and safety accident investigations and possessing professional capabilities.

Earlier, on the 21st, the Office for Government Policy Coordination requested an investigation by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office into six police officers related to the Osong underpass disaster.

The Office for Government Policy Coordination stated, "The inspection revealed serious errors in the handling of the 112 emergency call incident, and false reports were made to the Prime Minister's Office during the process of understanding the police response situation. We judged that a swift and fair investigation is necessary."

Previously, on the 15th, at the Gungpyeong 2 underpass in Osong-eup, Heungdeok District, Cheongju City, Chungbuk, heavy rain caused the Miho River embankment to break, allowing river water to flood in and submerge 17 vehicles including city buses. This accident resulted in 14 deaths and 10 injuries, totaling 24 casualties.

According to the police, Jeong Hee-young, Chief of Heungdeok Police Station, reportedly received the first report regarding the underpass situation via phone from the Osong Police Substation chief around 10 a.m. on the day of the incident, 1 hour and 20 minutes after the accident occurred.