'Entertainment Bar Sexual Assault Allegation' Detention Warrant for Seongdong-gu Council Member Rejected

"Possibility to Contest Charges, Guarantee of Right to Defense"

A detention warrant for Go Mo (33), a member of the Seoul Seongdong-gu Council, who is under investigation for sexually assaulting a drunken female employee at an entertainment bar, was dismissed.

Shin Young-hee, the chief judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, dismissed the detention warrant for Go, who is accused of special rape under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, after conducting a pre-detention suspect interrogation (warrant review) on the 2nd, stating, "It is difficult to recognize the grounds and reasonableness for detention."

Seocho Police Station, Seoul [Photo by Yonhap News]

Judge Shin said, "Since there is room to dispute the criminal charges, it is necessary to allow the suspect to fully exercise the right to defense while not detained," adding, "Considering the suspect’s sincere response to the investigation summons, residence and family relations, occupation, and criminal record, there is no reason to believe there is a risk of flight." She further explained that, based on the evidence secured so far, it is also difficult to see a risk of evidence tampering by the suspect.

After the warrant review, Go told reporters, "I will cooperate sincerely with the investigation and prove my innocence."

Go is accused of sexually assaulting a heavily intoxicated female employee at an entertainment bar in Seocho-gu, Seoul, last April. The Seocho Police Station in Seoul launched an investigation after receiving a report from the victim, booked Go, and applied for a detention warrant on the 30th of last month. Go is known to claim that the encounter was consensual. The police are also investigating three companions who were present at the entertainment bar at the time.

Go was elected as a district council member in 2022 as a member of the Democratic Party but recently left the party and is currently an independent.

The police will review the reasons for the dismissal and supplement the investigation before deciding whether to forward the case to the prosecution.

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