Arrest Warrant Denied for Former Marine Investigation Unit Chief on 'Hangmyeong' Charges

Military Court: "Low Risk of Evidence Tampering"

The arrest warrant requested for Park Jeong-hoon (Colonel), former head of the Marine Corps Investigation Unit, who was charged with insubordination while investigating the death of Marine Corporal Chae Mo, was dismissed.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 1st, the Central Regional Military Court dismissed the pre-arrest warrant requested by the military prosecution against former head Park on charges of 'insubordination' and 'defamation of a superior' against Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop. The court judged that there was little risk of evidence destruction.

After coming out of the military court, former head Park said, "I am grateful," and added, "With the support of many, I will sincerely participate in the investigation and trial to prove my innocence, and I hope the investigation will proceed well so that there will be no injustice to the late Corporal Chae."

In the arrest warrant request, the prosecution claimed that former head Park "repeated false claims through the media and is destroying evidence," arguing that "this clearly shows a fear of punishment and a risk of fleeing," but this was not accepted.

Former head Park was charged by the military prosecution with insubordination under the Military Penal Code for not following the Defense Minister's order to withhold and not transfer the investigation results related to Marine Corporal Chae, who died after being swept away by a rapid current while searching for missing persons during the heavy rain on July 19.

Earlier, former head Park and his legal representatives arrived at the Central Regional Military Court in Yongsan, Seoul, around 9:30 a.m. for the arrest warrant hearing scheduled at 10 a.m. However, when the military court did not open the entrance that allows direct access to the court building, former head Park and his legal team demanded the door be opened and refused to attend, leading to a standoff.

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