Former Division Commander Im Seong-geun Summoned for Overnight Interrogation... Returns Home After 22 Hours

Former Marine Corps 1st Division Commander Lim Seong-geun underwent an intensive 22-hour overnight investigation and returned home the next morning.

The Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency Criminal Mobile Unit summoned former Commander Lim, who is accused of professional negligence resulting in death, for questioning from around 9 a.m. the previous day.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This is the first time that former Commander Lim, the highest-ranking officer in the 'Marine Corps Private Chae Sang-byeong death case,' has undergone a face-to-face police investigation.

After reviewing all the statements with his lawyer for over four hours, former Commander Lim returned home at around 7:25 a.m. that day. It was 22 hours after he was summoned.

As he left the police station, former Commander Lim briefly said, "As promised to the late Private Chae Sang-byeong’s parents, I sincerely and truthfully participated in the police investigation without any falsehood to ensure an accurate fact-finding."

As the investigation that began the previous day extended, the police obtained former Commander Lim’s consent to conduct a late-night interrogation from 9 p.m. the previous day until 3:30 a.m. that morning.

According to the 'Rules on the Protection of Human Rights in Police Investigations,' interrogations of suspects or persons involved in cases are prohibited during late-night and early morning hours, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

However, considering the nature of the case, if late-night interrogation is unavoidable, it may proceed with the consent of the suspect or involved parties.

Before his summons for questioning the previous day, he criticized, "For the past 10 months, some YouTube channels, SNS, and certain media outlets have claimed that I ordered underwater searches," adding, "Various unverified false facts and claims have been rampant."

Possibilities of re-summoning former Commander Lim will be determined later through reviewing records and other procedures.

The police stated that there were no plans nor considerations for a confrontation interrogation with the 50th Division Commander, which had been mentioned in some reports.

A Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency official said, "Former Commander Lim actively participated in the statements and vigorously explained his position," adding, "We will accelerate the investigation."