Special Prosecutor Investigates Jeon Ik-su, Air Force Legal Office Chief, for the Third Time... Considering Arrest Warrant Request

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The special investigation team led by Special Prosecutor Ahn Mi-young (56, 25th Judicial Research and Training Institute), investigating the death of sexual violence victim the late Air Force Master Sergeant Lee Yeram, summoned and interrogated Jeon Ik-su, the Air Force Headquarters Legal Office Chief (52, Brigadier General), who was identified as responsible for the inadequate initial investigation, for the third time.

According to the special investigation team on the 1st, Jeon was questioned as a suspect for about 9 hours and 30 minutes from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. the previous day at the special prosecutor's office in Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.

Jeon arrived at the special prosecutor's office at 9:51 a.m. the previous day and said, "I will cooperate fully until the end today as well. I will answer sincerely."

Regarding the allegations of investigation cover-up raised by the Military Human Rights Center, he said, "Criticism must be based on accurate facts. However, the Military Human Rights Center has not done so until now," adding, "This is an opportunity to correct wrongful behavior."

Jeon is accused of directing the military prosecution's initial investigation to be inadequately conducted in March last year when the sexual harassment incident involving Master Sergeant Lee occurred (abuse of authority and neglect of duty). He was also summoned as a suspect on the 24th and 27th of last month and was interrogated for 13 hours and 12 hours, respectively.

The special investigation team will begin analyzing the investigation contents after today's questioning. They are expected to focus on proving the charges without additional summons of major suspects and will also consider the necessity of requesting an arrest warrant for Jeon. The investigation deadline for the special investigation team is until the 12th of this month.

Master Sergeant Lee, who belonged to the Air Force 20th Fighter Wing, was sexually harassed by a senior non-commissioned officer on March 2nd last year. While the military prosecution investigation was ongoing regarding this case, Lee took an extreme measure on May 21st of the same year. The 20th Fighter Wing military prosecution did not investigate the perpetrator even once after the sexual harassment incident occurred and after Lee's death. When controversy over the inadequate investigation arose, the Ministry of National Defense belatedly launched an investigation and prosecuted 15 people, but the Legal Office leadership, including Jeon, did not indict them citing "insufficient evidence."

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