Ambulance Driver Who Sexually Harassed COVID-19 Testee During Transport Attempts Again After Obtaining Their Number

Photo by Asia Economy DB

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] A private ambulance driver in Ulsan sexually assaulted a disabled person who boarded the ambulance after undergoing a COVID-19 test, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

According to the Ulsan Police Agency on the 8th, a local disability organization recently requested an investigation, stating that "a woman with developmental disabilities, Ms. A, was sexually assaulted by a private ambulance driver, Mr. B."

Ms. A was classified as a contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case in mid-May and underwent a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. She then boarded a private ambulance, which was responsible for COVID-19 test transportation services, to return home.

Driver Mr. B is accused of making sexual remarks and physically touching Ms. A inside the ambulance, constituting sexual harassment.

It is also reported that Mr. B called Ms. A using the contact information he obtained through the transportation service, lured her outside her home, and attempted to sexually assault her again.

The incident came to light after Ms. A informed staff at the disability protection workshop where she usually works, following the completion of her COVID-19 self-quarantine. The police have currently booked Mr. B and are investigating the exact circumstances of the case.

In response, disability organizations are demanding strict punishment. A representative from one such organization stated, "It is a serious issue that a private ambulance driver, who obtained personal information of a disabled person for official duties, used it to commit a crime," and emphasized the need for measures to prevent recurrence.

The company to which Mr. B belongs was contracted by Ulsan City to provide transportation services for testing. In the Ulsan area, in addition to the 119 ambulance service, hospitals, and public health centers, three local private ambulance companies operate transportation services for COVID-19 testing, divided by five districts and counties among the companies.

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