March 9- Regarding the case where a police officer put a plastic bag over a suspect’s head for nearly half an hour, the NHRCK issued a recommendation calling on the Commissioner-General of the National Police Agency to take disciplinary measures against the head of the district squad involved and to prepare preventive measures.
“Around midnight on October 2, 2008, I was taken to a nearby district squad for not paying a taxi fare. While arguing about this matter, I was tied to a chair with handcuffs. I spat on the floor because I felt like I was being mistreated. Then, a police officer put a plastic bag over my head and this made me feel suffocated,” claimed a person identified as B (male, 51) in the complaint he filed with the NHRCK in January 2009.
After investigation, the NHRCK concluded that putting a plastic bag over the suspect’s head for 27 minutes violated Article 10 and 12 of the Korean Constitution which guarantees the integrity and liberty of suspects.
