'Nakdonggang Riverside Murder Case' Acquitted After 31 Years... Police "Deeply Reflecting"

21 Years of Unjust Imprisonment
False Confession Due to Police Brutality
Police Bow Their Heads... "We Will Strive to Prevent Unjust Victims"

Choi In-cheol and Jang Dong-ik, the victims of the 'Nakdong Riverside Murder Case' who were wrongfully imprisoned for 21 years after being falsely accused of murder due to police torture, are seen holding hands after the retrial verdict hearing held at the Busan High Court on the morning of the 4th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The police apologized after two victims of the "Nakdong Riverside Murder Case," who were wrongfully imprisoned for 21 years under the false charge of murder due to police torture, were acquitted in a retrial 31 years later.

The National Police Agency issued a statement on the 5th, saying, "We offer our deepest condolences and apologies to the retrial petitioners, victims, families, and all those affected."

They continued, "We are deeply ashamed that proper legal procedures and human rights-centered investigation principles were not followed during the investigation process at that time," and apologized, saying, "We sincerely reflect on the great wounds caused to the retrial petitioners and others."

The police stated, "The inviolable basic human rights that every individual holds are a solemn constitutional mandate and a natural duty of police officers," adding, "We will thoroughly analyze the investigative issues confirmed in the retrial judgment and trial process, and take this case as a lesson to re-recognize the value of human rights protection, making every effort to ensure that no innocent victims suffer again."

They also emphasized, "The police will establish more meticulous human rights protection measures at each stage of investigation to enhance the completeness of investigations and ensure fair and responsible investigations."

The Busan High Court Criminal Division 1 (Chief Judge Kim Moon-gwan) acquitted Choi In-cheol (60) and Jang Dong-ik (63), who were wrongfully convicted as suspects of robbery and murder, sentenced to life imprisonment, and imprisoned for 21 years before being released as model prisoners, in the retrial judgment delivered yesterday.

The case involved a man and woman who were dating in a car by the Nakdong Riverside on January 4, 1990, when they were kidnapped by assailants; the woman was sexually assaulted and murdered, and the man was injured.

One year and ten months after the incident, Choi and Jang were arrested by the police as murder suspects, subsequently tried, sentenced to life imprisonment, and wrongfully imprisoned for 21 years before being released as model prisoners in 2013. Four years after their release, in 2017, Choi and Jang filed for a retrial, claiming that the police had illegally detained, assaulted, and subjected them to water torture, forcing false confessions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.