Prosecution: "Abuse of Public Authority and Human Rights Violation... Extremely Egregious Crime"
A: "Investigation Did Not Guarantee Right to Defense"
A former male police officer who was indicted on charges of molesting a female suspect during transport to a detention facility, including attempting to kiss her, has been sentenced to seven years in prison by the prosecution.
According to Yonhap News on July 1, the final hearing for former police officer A (54), who was detained and indicted on charges including forcible molestation and abuse of authority, was held at the Jeonju District Court Criminal Division 3 (Judge Ki Heekwang).
The prosecution requested the court to impose a severe sentence, stating, "The defendant has shown no remorse for his crimes and continues to retaliate against the victim." The prosecution pointed out, "After being indicted, the defendant even filed a counter-complaint against the victim, accusing her of forcible molestation. It is clear that this complaint was intended both as retaliation against the victim and as an attempt to obtain evidence favorable to himself in this case."
The prosecution further stated, "As a police officer at the time, the defendant was obligated to uphold due process in criminal justice and protect the basic rights of citizens. However, he betrayed this duty by forcibly molesting a detained suspect, thereby violating her human rights." The prosecution added, "He committed the crime after violating the regulations on suspect transport and creating a situation where he was alone with the victim, which makes the nature of the crime extremely egregious."
The prosecution continued, "He has not shown any remorse for his actions and has even retaliated against the victim by reporting her for violations of the Narcotics Control Act and filing a counter-complaint for forcible molestation. The defendant's abuse of the public authority granted under the Criminal Procedure Act constitutes a very serious human rights violation, and a severe punishment is necessary to send a warning to society."
In his final statement, A became emotional and said, "During my 25 years as a police officer, I always put work first and neglected my family. Looking back, I feel sorry for my wife, my son, and my elderly father." He added, "During the investigation by the prosecution, I was never given a proper opportunity to review the CCTV footage or check the DNA results. I ask the court to sound an alarm regarding investigative practices that do not guarantee the right to defense."
A was indicted on charges of molesting a female suspect, B, including touching parts of her body, during transport to the prosecutor's detention facility on November 8 last year. According to the indictment, when B protested, saying, "Isn't it wrong for a police officer to do this?" A replied, "You're right. I shouldn't be doing this," but then attempted to kiss her again. The Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency held a disciplinary committee in April and decided to dismiss him.
The sentencing hearing for A is scheduled for July 17.
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