The National Human Rights Commission has recommended that job training be conducted for police officers who used excessive physical force to arrest a suspect, as well as for other officers in the same department.
On June 30, the Commission announced that it had recommended the head of the relevant police station provide job training for the officers involved, as well as for other officers in the same department, regarding the improper arrest of a person caught in the act.
This recommendation was made in response to an incident in which police used excessive physical force, such as twisting the arm of a complainant who was having a verbal dispute, and arresting them after listening to only one side of the story.
At the time, the complainant was moving a monitor belonging to another store that had been placed in front of their own shop, which led to an argument with the other shop owner. The police arrested the complainant as a suspect caught in the act. Just 30 seconds after hearing the shop owner's statement, the police twisted the complainant's left arm behind their back, handcuffed them, and caused a wrist contusion. During this process, the police also seized the complainant's mobile phone. Later, the police decided not to refer the complainant to prosecution, even though they had booked them on charges such as property damage and obstruction of business.
The officer involved stated that the complainant was so unstable that it was impossible to take a statement, making an on-the-spot arrest unavoidable. The officer also explained that the mobile phone was returned immediately upon arrival at the police station.
The Commission stated, "Even though there was no indication that the complainant resisted the police or posed any threat, the use of excessive physical force violated the 'Regulations on the Standards and Methods of Police Use of Force.' Furthermore, seizing the mobile phone without consent and without preparing a seizure report or inventory constitutes a serious procedural flaw."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
