Kim Soon-hwan, Secretary-General of the Committee for the People's Livelihood, filed a complaint against the Ansan Danwon Police Station's Juvenile Investigation Team and Head of the Juvenile Division on the 12th at the Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station on charges of legal distortion, abuse of power, and defamation. The Chief of the Ansan Danwon Police Station was accused of dereliction of duty. [Photo=Yonhap News]In relation to the case where a teenage girl who reported sexual assault took her own life after the police decided not to prosecute, the investigation team at the time was reported to the Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station for 'legal distortion' and other charges. This case has recently been transferred to the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency.

The Committee for the People's Livelihood (Secretary-General Kim Soon-hwan) announced on the 29th that the complaint filed on the 12th against the Ansan Danwon Police Station's Juvenile Investigation Team and Head of the Juvenile Division for legal distortion, abuse of power, and defamation, and against the Chief of the Ansan Danwon Police Station for dereliction of duty and other charges, was transferred to the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency on the 27th.

Teenage Victim Dies After Police Decision Not to Prosecute: 'Difficulty Recognizing Incapacity to Resist'

The incident dates back to December of last year. Ms. A, who was 19 at the time, filed a complaint against Mr. B, the owner in his 40s, who worked at a bar in Ansan City, Gyeonggi Province, for sexual assault, accusing him of 'quasi-rape'.

The Ansan Danwon Police Station, which investigated the case, reviewed CCTV footage and witness statements, and on February 18th, decided not to prosecute (no suspicion) on the grounds that it was difficult to consider Ms. A as being in a state of being unable to resist at the time.

Victim Ms. A wrote an objection letter stating that she could not accept the police's investigation results and was found dead three days after the non-prosecution decision, on February 21st. Subsequently, a reinvestigation was conducted at the request of the prosecution for supplementary investigation, but the police maintained the same conclusion as before.

Committee for the People's Livelihood: "An Act That Shook the Trust in Investigative Agencies," Urges Severe Punishment

In response, the Committee for the People's Livelihood filed a complaint on the 12th with the police against the Ansan Danwon Police Station's Juvenile Investigation Team and department head who handled the case at the time, on charges of legal distortion, abuse of power, and defamation, and against the Chief of the Ansan Danwon Police Station on charges of dereliction of duty.

In the complaint, the Committee for the People's Livelihood strongly criticized the incident, stating, "This case is a devastating tragedy that drove a teenage girl, who had not yet been able to pursue her dreams, to her death." They added, "It is an act that has shaken societal values and trust in investigative agencies, with public officials in charge of public security offering absurd excuses and distorting the truth."

They further pointed out that it is a "typical example of repeated harm to ordinary people following the unreasonable adjustment of investigative powers between the prosecution and the police," and argued that "swift and thorough investigations must be conducted, and severe punishment must be applied with strict standards, regardless of status."

The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, which received the case, will thoroughly examine whether there were any illegal acts, such as errors in legal application, improper external pressure, or investigative negligence during the investigation process, based on the complaint.

Account for donations to the Committee for the People's Livelihood: Post Office 010108-01-014472

Account Holder: Committee for the People's Livelihood

Reporter Im Yo-hee