Prosecutor"s Office Accepts Recommendation from the NHRC
The Seoul District Public Prosecutor"s Office (the Prosecutors Office) declared on February 19, 2003 that they will continue their investigation of Ms. Kim, who was charged with suspicion of attempted arson, without having her in their custody.
Ms. Kim was arrested on February 4, 2002 when she attempted to set a fire at the hospital where she had received her operation and become disabled. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recommended the Prosecutor"s Office to take urgent measures on February 15, 2003.
The NHRC felt that if Ms. Kim was to continue to be in the detention center, which is not a disabled-friendly facility, Ms. Kim would lose her basic human dignity and her health would suffer. In addition, since Ms. Kim is a first offender and has little or no possibility of destroying evidence or escaping, having her in custody in such conditions constitutes a human rights violation.
The Prosecutor"s Office has accepted the NHRC"s recommendations and will release Ms. Kim sometime today.
