If Verified, Chief Prosecutor Arrested for Aiding and Abetting Today

The Internal Inspection Division of the Highest Public Prosecutors` Office (IID) has been conducting a probe into the sudden death of Cho Chun-hoon, a suspect who was being interrogated at the Seoul District Office of the Public Prosecutors`. On Nov. 4th, the IID recalled Hong Kyung-ryung, the chief prosecutor originally in charge of investigation of Cho, then a murder suspect, and questioned him for the third time to find out whether or not Hong aided and abetted the beating of Cho or ordered the beating.

It has become known that the IID will bring a criminal charge against Hong for abuse of power and manslaughter as early as Nov. 5th if it discovers that Hong did not take any action even when he witnessed the beating by the agents. Then, the IID will file for the arrest warrant for Hong.

In the meanwhile, the IID has brought in a man, whose last name is Park, for more questioning since Park`s previous statement to the IID regarding Cho`s death is deemed reliable. Park was being questioned as a material witness for about an hour in the special interrogation room located on the 11th floor of the district office at around 11 a.m. on Oct. 26, the day Cho reportedly died.

Park reportedly stated before the IID, "I heard the interrogators waking up Cho. Then, Cho said, `I can`t breathe.` But, the agents just said, `Do not lie.` Right after that, I heard loud noises. Following the noises, I heard the agents say, `He`s not breathing,` `Do the CPR. `"

The IID plans to announce the results of its own investigation within this week. Then, the Justice Ministry, along with the senior prosecutors, will determine who, including all the high-ranking prosecutors in the chain of command, should be held accountable and penalized.

National Human Rights Commission Commences Own Investigation

In the meanwhile, on Nov. 2nd, the National Human Rights Commission has conducted a medical examination of all the 4 accused, who are being imprisoned in connection of the charge on which Cho was arrested and interrogated. The commission discovered all of them had signs of bruises over all their bodies.

One suspect (Chong) was diagnosed with 20 bruises on the shoulders, the chest and the thighs. Likewise, another suspect Kwon was also found to have a 1.5×1㎝ bruise near his left shoulder, and scabs on both of his wrists caused by contusions. Kwon is reported complaining of the pain on the left part of his waist. For both, the prognosis requires a two-week treatment.

On the other hand, the other two accused were diagnosed to need a one-week treatment. A Park, one of the 4 accused, had a sing of a severe bruise on his left knee, and had a scab on the knee in the size of 1×2㎝ and other scabs on his wrists. Finally, the last suspect Chang had a 1×2㎝ bruise on his left thigh.

Wi-Yong Jung Hyo-Lim Son viyonz@donga.com aryssong@donga.com