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Inmate Abused; Correctional Officer In The Wrong
Date : 2007.07.13 00:00:00
Hits : 1581
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea recommends disciplinary action against correctional officer for beating inmate
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) recommended recently that a correctional officer at the Anyang Detention Center be reprimanded for assaulting an inmate, and further recommended that the warden of the facility take formal disciplinary action against the respondent for using excessive force without due reason.
The inmate’s father, a 55-year-old male known as “Park,” reported that his son endured severe beating to the face upon visiting him in February of 2007. During the visit, the complainant requested to know why his son had been beaten, but the respondent simply replied that the complainant’s son had been bothering him. The complainant’s son, the inmate, protested the respondent’s statement, at which time agitated the respondent to chase the complainant’s son down the hallway. Later, the respondent justified his actions by stating, “I was so agitated that I grabbed him by the neck, and bumped into his back and cheek while trying to restrain [the complainant’s son], but I never assaulted him.”
The Commission discovered through investigation that the respondent did strike the complainant’s son on the left side of his back and the left cheek with his palm. This was then verified when (i) the respondent admitted to striking the complainant’s son, (ii) the victim sought refuge and requested assistance after the assault and (iii) the CCTV (closed-circuit television) recording captured the speed at which the respondent assaulted the complainant’s son and the victim’s sunken posture immediately following the attack.
The NHRCK determined that the respondent failed to uphold his commitment as a correctional officer to enforce the law, and that the respondent violated Article 1-3 of the Criminal Administration Act (concerning respect of basic human rights) and Article 4 of the Safe Custody Regulations (Ministry of Justice Directive No. 515, concerning the basic respect of inmates’ rights). Additionally, the respondent is found to have violated the victim’s Constitutional Right to personal freedom (Article 12).
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea was established in 2001 to promote human rights education and defend those who have experienced discrimination, or have had a right violated, in Korea. The Commission offers counseling, full investigation and protection for citizens, along with educational initiatives for organizations.
