Prison Officers Violate Human Rights When They Confiscate
Inmates" Eye Glasses
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recommended the commissioner general of Korean National Police Agency and the chief of Sung Dong Police Station to find a reform measure, which should make and become effective in order to wear glasses in detention centers and give human rights education to the two officers, who confiscated a complainant"s glasses when the complainant, Jin was imprisoned on March 1, 2002.
This incident began when Mr. Jin was arrested for violating the Punishment of Violence, etc. Act and the Assembly and Demonstration Act. When he was imprisoned at Sung Dong Police Station, Han, a police officer, and Lee, a police sergeant, confiscated Jin"s glasses because they felt Jin might possibly commit suicide with his glasses. On 5 March 2002, Jin filed a complaint to the NHRC after the police denied his request to wear his glasses.
According to the result of investigating by the NHRC, under Article 9 (paragraph 1, sub-paragraph 1) in Detention of Suspect & Transfer Instruction, prison officers and policemen are to be educated not to allow detainee to have glasses on their possession. A officer, Han and Sergeant, Lee stated that the circumstances at the time, and the past criminal records of Jin lead them to believe that Jin might possibly commit suicide.
The NHRC investigated and found out that the above-mentioned article states that metal objects that are commonly used for suicide must be confiscated. Although the regulation doesn"t state confiscation of glasses, the officers at Sung Dong Police Station acted as if they were required to do so.
The policemen insisted that when they were admitting Jin there were a concern of suicide. However, the investigation found that there weren"t any records of disturbance or disorderly conduct.
The NHRC decided that since Jin complained of pain and suffering, and since the policemen made a judgment on their own to confiscate the glasses (which can be seen as a part of the body) in concerns of possible suicide, the policemen had violated Jin"s human rights.
