Military Police to Prosecute Only One in Connection with Air Force Female Sergeant Case (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]The Ministry of National Defense prosecution team is reportedly planning to indict only one of the two military police officers from the Air Force 20th Fighter Wing in connection with the death of a non-commissioned officer who was a victim of sexual harassment, on charges of dereliction of duty.

According to multiple military sources on the 10th, the prosecution team will submit the indictment consideration of 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 to the Military Prosecution Investigation Review Committee meeting held that afternoon.

They are accused of conducting a negligent investigation (dereliction of duty), such as only investigating the victim, Sergeant Lee, on March 5 and preparing a report containing a 'non-detention opinion' regarding the perpetrator, Sergeant Jang.

In particular, a dedicated investigator dispatched from the Air Force Headquarters conveyed to Warrant Officer A on the 7th of the same month that "the degree of forced molestation is very severe and consideration of a detention warrant application is possible," but the next day, Lieutenant Colonel B reportedly maintained the non-detention investigation policy in the report to the 20th Fighter Wing Commander and the Air Force Headquarters Military Police Corps.

The prosecution team is said to request the review committee to deliberate indicting one of them while recommending non-prosecution for the other.

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

Originally, the prosecution team planned to indict them without the resolution of the investigation review committee, but it is reported that they requested the convening of the committee and are proceeding with the related procedures.

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

Although the opinions of the investigation review committee are not legally binding, the operating guidelines for the investigation review committee 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.