NIS Informant's False Report Leads to 'Unjust Imprisonment'...Prosecutors "Sincerely Apologize"

The prosecution has decided to drop the charges against Mr. A, who was wrongfully tried as a 'drug offender' due to false reports from a National Intelligence Service informant. The prosecution also unusually expressed "sincere apologies to the victim" in materials sent to reporters.

The Incheon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Song Kang) held a prosecution review committee on the 31st and decided to withdraw the charges against Mr. A (in his 50s), submitting the dismissal of prosecution to the court.

On June 5, the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office received a drug smuggling case against Mr. A from the Incheon Customs Special Judicial Police and indicted him. Later, when the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office arrested Mr. B on charges of false accusation for falsely reporting the drug case against Mr. A in August, they requested the cancellation of Mr. A's detention, which the court accepted, leading to Mr. A's release.

The Incheon District Prosecutors' Office received investigation records on Mr. B's false accusation charges from the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office, thoroughly re-examined the evidence, held a prosecution review committee, and then submitted the dismissal of prosecution to the court.

According to a report by KBS on the 30th, Mr. B was active as a drug informant for the National Intelligence Service and fabricated the case in response to the NIS's 'performance' demands.

The prosecution stated, "We sincerely apologize for failing to fulfill our duty to protect Mr. A's fundamental rights during the investigation process, which proceeded through the Incheon Customs Special Judicial Police's investigation initiation and detention warrant application, and the prosecution (Incheon District Prosecutors' Office) investigation."

They added, "We will actively support the criminal compensation procedures for Mr. A in the future and thoroughly review the entire investigation and trial process to prevent such cases from occurring again."