<em>Police Chief:</em> "Investigations Should Not Be Swayed by Arbitrary Judgments of Investigators"

Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong of the National Police Agency is announcing the mid- to long-term anti-corruption promotion plan at the National Police Agency briefing room on the 14th.
[Photo by National Police Agency]

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Regarding the 'taxi driver assault' incident involving former Vice Minister of Justice Lee Yong-gu, Police Commissioner General Kim Chang-ryong stated, "We will do our best to ensure that the investigation is not swayed by the arbitrary judgment of the responsible investigator."

On the 14th, at a press briefing, when asked about the former Vice Minister Lee's case, Commissioner Kim said, "While the inappropriate actions of the responsible investigator are problematic, the bigger issue is that the team leader, section chief, or station chief in the command and management system did not properly verify and correct those actions."

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Joint Fact-Finding Investigation Team for hearings and investigations sent Investigator A, who was in charge of the former Vice Minister Lee's case, to the prosecution on charges of dereliction of duty. The direct team leader and section chief were referred to the Police Investigation Review Committee. Investigator A is suspected of failing to report after viewing the black box footage showing the former Vice Minister Lee assaulting the taxi driver. The police applied charges of instructing evidence destruction against the former Vice Minister Lee and handed the case over to the prosecution.

Following the announcement by the fact-finding investigation team, the Police Agency also introduced follow-up measures focusing on strengthening the internal investigation management system. Commissioner Kim said, "The National Investigation Headquarters will inspect and supplement the system to prevent such mishandling of cases from happening again," adding, "We will take an interest and review the entire investigation system."

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