Former Yongsan Police Chief Iimjae Finally Arrested... "Concern Over Evidence Tampering" (Update)

Former Yongsan Station Chief Song Byeongju Also Issued

Former Yongsan Police Chief (Senior Superintendent) Lee Im-jae, who has been suspected of inadequate response to the Itaewon disaster, is entering the Seoul Western District Court on the morning of the 23rd to undergo a pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Lee Im-jae, former Yongsan Police Station Chief (Senior Superintendent) accused of inadequate response to the Itaewon disaster, was arrested by the police on the 23rd. This comes 18 days after his first arrest warrant was dismissed on the 5th of this month.

Park Wan-kyu, the warrant judge at the Seoul Western District Court, issued the arrest warrant requested by the Police Agency’s Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Investigation Unit) investigating the Itaewon disaster, charging Lee with professional negligence resulting in death or injury, and forgery and use of false official documents. Judge Park stated, "Considering the additional evidence collected, various evidence in the investigation records, and the results of the interrogation, there is a recognized risk of evidence destruction."

The Special Investigation Unit had previously applied for the first arrest warrant on the 1st, charging only professional negligence resulting in death or injury, but it was dismissed by the court. Subsequently, the Special Investigation Unit conducted a comprehensive supplementary investigation and added charges of forgery and use of false official documents against Lee, applying for a second arrest warrant on the 19th.

According to the Special Investigation Unit, Lee is accused of failing to take appropriate measures before and after the disaster, which increased casualties. He is also accused of falsely recording the time of arrival at the scene on the day of the disaster. It is alleged that he reviewed the situation report falsely stating that he arrived at the scene 48 minutes earlier than the actual time but did not correct it.

An arrest warrant was also issued for Song Byung-joo, former head of the Yongsan Police Station 112 Situation Room (Police Superintendent). The reason for issuance is the same as for Lee. Song is accused of professional negligence resulting in death or injury for failing to take appropriate safety measures, such as pushing the crowd that spilled onto the roadway back onto the sidewalk despite 112 emergency calls warning of the risk of crushing just before the disaster. He is also accused of delaying rescue by failing to report to his superior Lee in a timely manner and inadequately controlling the scene.

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