Military Police to Prosecute for Negligent Investigation of Air Force Female Sergeant Case

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]The Ministry of National Defense prosecution team is confirmed to plan to indict two military police officers from the Air Force 20th Fighter Wing on charges of negligent investigation (dereliction of duty) related to the sexual harassment victim non-commissioned officer's death case.

On the 10th, the prosecution team intends to submit the indictment plan for Warrant Officer A, head of the investigation section of the 20th Fighter Wing Military Police Battalion, and Lieutenant Colonel B, the battalion commander, as an agenda item at the military prosecution investigation review committee meeting held that afternoon.

They only investigated Sergeant Lee, the victim, on March 5 and prepared a report containing a 'non-detention opinion' regarding the perpetrator Sergeant Jang. Notably, a dedicated investigator dispatched from the Air Force Headquarters conveyed to Warrant Officer A on March 7 that "the degree of forced molestation is very severe and consideration of an arrest warrant application is possible," but the following day, Lieutenant Colonel B reported to the 20th Fighter Wing commander and the Air Force Headquarters Military Police Unit that the non-detention investigation policy was maintained.

The prosecution team will also submit as an agenda item the plan to indict Colonel C and Lieutenant Colonel D from the Air Force Headquarters Public Affairs and Psychological Operations Office on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights for unnecessary contact with persons involved in the case.

Initially, the prosecution team planned to indict them without a resolution from the investigation review committee, but it is reported that they requested the convening of the committee, and related procedures are underway.

The investigation review committee, composed of civilian experts, will listen to the opinions of the suspects and bereaved families at the meeting and review the applicable charges and whether to indict the military police battalion and public affairs office executives, deciding on recommendations for indictment or non-indictment.

Although the committee's opinions have no legal binding force, the investigation review committee operation guidelines established by the Minister of National Defense stipulate that these opinions should be respected.

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