Released in 17 Hours Despite Positive Drug Test and Serious Injuries Among Victims
Comprehensive Revision of 'Identity Guarantee System' to Prevent Confusion
A police officer who detained and then released Shin Mo (28), who fatally struck a pedestrian while driving a Rolls-Royce under the influence of drugs, received a one-month pay reduction and was transferred.
According to the police on the 15th, the Police Disciplinary Committee on the 14th of last month imposed a one-month pay reduction on Lieutenant A of the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul and transferred him to another police station within Seoul.
On the 2nd, near Apgujeong Station in Gangnam, Seoul, a man in his 20s named Shin was driving a Rolls-Royce and ran onto the sidewalk, seriously injuring a woman in her 20s. Shin is seen walking out of the car and making a phone call. [Photo by YouTube channel 'Karacula Detective Agency']
A pay reduction is considered a minor disciplinary action along with a reprimand in police discipline. Major disciplinary actions include demotion, suspension, dismissal, and expulsion.
Earlier, on August 2nd, Shin took psychotropic drugs disguised as a skin beauty treatment near Apgujeong Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It was revealed that Shin had taken drugs such as midazolam and ketamine twice at that time.
Ketamine is used as a general anesthetic and has analgesic and hallucinogenic effects, commonly referred to as a "club drug."
After taking the drugs, Shin drove a Rolls-Royce and hit a woman in her 20s who was on the sidewalk, injuring her. After the accident, while bystanders rushed to help the victim trapped under the car, Shin was reportedly looking at his phone and left the accident scene a few minutes later, leaving the victim behind.
According to witnesses, at the time of arrest, Shin was staggering and appeared unaware that he had caused the accident, speaking incoherently to the responding police officers.
The accident victim suffered brain death and injuries requiring more than 24 weeks of treatment and died on the 25th of last month, 115 days after the accident.
The police confirmed a doctor's opinion at the hospital at the time of the incident and released Shin around 3 p.m. on August 3rd, just 17 hours after detention.
A police official explained the reason for Shin's release, saying, "The suspect's lawyer provided a guarantor and promised to take responsibility, so we released him." It is reported that Shin had hired a lawyer from a major law firm.
When news of Shin's release was reported in the media, criticism arose over the police response, given that the suspect tested positive for drugs and the victim was seriously injured.
Subsequently, the police began a complete revision of the guarantor system that caused such confusion. They decided to rename the system to "Family Contact Information Submission Confirmation" to avoid confusion caused by the term, as there was no legal basis for the guarantor system, and planned to formalize and reorganize the system.
Specifically, earlier this month, the police distributed to frontline police stations the "Improvement Plan for Guarantor Documents for Non-Detained Suspects," which includes a complete ban on the use of the terms "guarantor" and "guarantor document."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
