Special Prosecutor Ahn Mi-young, who investigated the death of Sergeant Lee Ye-ram, a victim of sexual violence in the Air Force for 100 days, answers questions from reporters following announcing the results of the investigation at the Seoul District Bar Association in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the followingnoon of the 13th. Reporter Hwang Jin-hwan
The special prosecutor’s team (special prosecutor Ahn Mi-young and the 25th Judicial Training Institute), which investigated the death of the late Sergeant Ye-ram Lee, a victim of sexual violence in the Air Force, tried eight people, including Brigadier Jeon Ik-su, head of the Air Force Headquarters’ Legal Office, and the former battalion commander of the 20th Fighter Wing of the Air Force. passed on to
The special prosecutor’s team said at a briefing on the results of the investigation conducted at the Seoul District Bar Association in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 13th that a total of 164 people were investigated, one person was arrested and indicted, and seven people were indicted without detention.
Sgt. Ye-ram Lee, who previously belonged to the 20th Wing of the Air Force, reported immediately following receiving continuous sexual harassment from senior noncommissioned officer A (25) in March last year, but no proper action was taken and ultimately committed suicide on May 21 of the same year. Since then, a special prosecutor’s office was launched as suspicions arose regarding the Air Force’s inappropriate investigations and tampering with the incident.
After a 100-day investigation, the special prosecutor’s team indicted Brigadier General Jeon Ik-su, the head of the Air Force’s legal office, without detention. Regarding the former brigadier general, who was caught up in the controversy over covering up the investigation in relation to this case, the special prosecutor applied charges for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (forced interview, etc.). It is said that Brigadier Jeon used his rank to apply pressure by calling the military prosecutor who was investigating him and saying that the investigation was wrong.
Military sexual assault victims special prosecutor’s investigation period ends. yunhap news
Next, the special prosecutor’s team determined that the 20th Fighter Wing battalion commander B (44), who was a direct supervisor of Sergeant Lee, also knew regarding the alleged sexual assault once morest Sergeant Lee, but ignored it and made a false report. The Special Prosecutor’s Office said, “Even though he knew that Sergeant Lee and the perpetrator of sexual harassment had not been separated, he falsely reported to the Air Force Headquarters that the victim and the perpetrator had been separated. He abandoned his duties as a commander without any justifiable reason, such as not asking for a commander.”
Another direct superior of Sgt. Ye-Ram Lee, company commander C (29), was also handed over to trial. Mr. C is accused of defaming his reputation by telling the lieutenant Lee, who had been victimized by sex crimes, to the company commander of the 15th Special Mission Squadron, the newly transferred Air Force, that Sgt. Lee was a strange person.
Military prosecutor D (29), who was in charge of the initial investigation of the sergeant’s case, was charged with negligence and false reporting. The special prosecutor saw that Mr. D had neglected the investigation even though he was informed of the circumstances of the second offense once morest this sergeant following being forwarded to the case. Specifically, it was found that even though Mr. D was aware that the perpetrator A had continuously assaulted Sergeant Lee, he neglected to review the necessity of the arrest investigation and delayed the investigation, such as taking a vacation.
Air Force Attorney General Jeon Ik-soo attends the office of the late Special Prosecutor Lee Ye-ram located in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the 31st of last month. The Special Prosecutor’s Team Ahn Mi-young (56, 25th Judicial Research and Training Institute), which is investigating the death of the late Sergeant Lee Ye-ram, once more summoned Jeon Ik-soo, the head of the Air Force’s legal office, who investigated twice on suspicion of ‘ineffective initial investigation’. Reporter Ryu Young-joo
Meanwhile, lawyer E, the only one arrested during the special prosecutor’s investigation, was also handed over to trial. Lawyer E was found to have interfered with the work of the Civil Rights Center, a civic group that made the case public, by making a false report to Brigadier Jeon Ik-su with fake evidence.
The special prosecutor’s office said, “The illegal acts revealed by the special prosecutor’s investigation are △ Criminal actions by superiors and investigative officers in the unit before the victim’s death △ Mismanagement of incidents that occurred during the investigation following the victim’s death and secondary crimes △ Forgery of evidence by lawyers who were former Air Force judges.” Brigadier Jeon Ik-su was also charged with coercing an interview following finding evidence of an attempt to subvert the investigation by using unjust force on the military prosecutor.”
He continued, “We will do our best to ensure that each defendant receives a punishment commensurate with their crimes through thorough maintenance of public prosecution. hopes that a tragedy like the late Sergeant Lee Ye-ram will not be repeated.”
