Ahn Chang-ho, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, bangs the gavel at the plenary session held at the commission's office in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 24th. Yonhap News

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has decided to file a complaint against officials from Special Prosecutor Min Jung-ki's team on charges of abuse of power in relation to the 'Yangpyeong County Civil Servant Death Case.' This decision was made due to confirmation of coercive investigation circumstances, such as forcing statements from the deceased during the investigation.

The NHRC adopted an 82-page report on the ex officio investigation into the Yangpyeong County Civil Servant Death Case, which included these findings, at its 22nd plenary session on the afternoon of the 1st.

The NHRC decided to file a complaint against one investigator dispatched to the special prosecution team and to request an investigation into three others.

The NHRC stated that upon securing and reviewing the deceased's 21-page diary-style will, it confirmed circumstances of human rights violations by the special prosecution team, and the name of the investigator subject to the complaint was also written in it.

Cho Hyung-seok, Director-General of the NHRC Investigation Division, explained, "Based on the deceased's will, we are filing a complaint against the investigator judged to have forced statements, and requesting an investigation into the other two investigators and the team leader in charge."

He added, "We considered the expressions found in the will, such as 'You said you didn't do it, but keep saying you did, say someone ordered you, they are passing the buck, they are pushing, they speak informally, I am so exhausted by the persuasion and coercion,' collectively as abuse of power."

However, the NHRC stated that the individual against whom the complaint was filed denied the charges.

The NHRC also urged Special Prosecutor Min Jung-ki to prevent human rights violations in future investigations.

Furthermore, it recommended that the Yangpyeong Police Chief conduct training for the police officers who performed the autopsy of the deceased, and that the Speaker of the National Assembly include human rights protection provisions in future special prosecution laws.

Mr. A, a civil servant in his 50s from Yangpyeong County Office, was found dead at his home on October 10th, after being investigated by the special prosecution team led by Min Jung-ki, which was investigating allegations concerning First Lady Kim Keon-hee. The NHRC had been conducting an ex officio investigation into whether human rights violations occurred in this case.

Yonhap News