Arrest Warrant Denied for Nursing Hospital Director Accused of Drug Killing Two Patients

The arrest warrant for the director of a nursing hospital in Seoul, who is accused of killing two tuberculosis patients by administering drugs, has been dismissed.

A director of a nursing hospital, accused of killing two patients during medical procedures, is leaving the Seoul Western District Court after completing the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) in November last year.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 25th, Judge Jeong In-jae, in charge of warrants at the Seoul Western District Court, dismissed the arrest warrant requested by the prosecution against Lee (46), who is accused of murder.

Judge Jeong stated the reason for dismissal, saying, "Considering that the suspect has a fixed residence and has cooperated sincerely with the investigation agencies so far, it is difficult to see a risk of flight."

He added, "The investigation agencies have already secured statements and transcripts from related parties in the case, so it is difficult to conclude that there is a risk of evidence tampering," and "Even when considering the collected evidence and the current investigation status, it is difficult to recognize grounds for detention."

Lee is accused of administering highly dangerous drugs to an elderly female patient in her 80s and a male patient in his 60s, both suffering from tuberculosis, at the nursing hospital he operated in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, in 2015, resulting in their deaths.

The police viewed Lee's actions as intentional murder beyond a simple medical accident and applied for an arrest warrant.