Prosecutors Decline to Indict Lawyer Who Reported Alleged Police Coercion in Goyang Oil Depot Fire Investigation

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] A lawyer who raised suspicions of coercive investigation by the police in relation to the Goyang oil depot fire incident was dismissed without prosecution by the prosecution.

On the 3rd, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office announced that it had dismissed the case against lawyer Choi Jeong-gyu, who was referred by the police on the 30th of last month with an indictment opinion for violating the Personal Information Protection Act, due to insufficient evidence.

Choi, the defense attorney for the suspect in the 2018 Goyang oil depot fire incident, had reported to the media a recorded video of the suspect's statement, a foreign worker B, who was in custody, alleging that police officer A had conducted a coercive investigation without the suspect's consent.

The media outlet reported the video provided by lawyer Choi in May 2019 without altering officer A's back view and voice, and officer A filed a complaint with the police against lawyer Choi, claiming a violation of personal information.

After the police referred lawyer Choi to the prosecution with an indictment opinion, criticism arose in civil society, including accusations of 'retaliatory investigation' and 'abuse of public authority.'

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