Defendants of Yongsan trial file a countersuit

Posted on : 2009-05-15 12:23 KST Modified on : 2009-05-15 12:23 KST
They protest the trial’s fairness and continue to demand prosecutor’s compliance with the court order for full disclosure of investigation records
 the lawyer working on behalf of victims and bereaved family members of the Yongsan tragedy
the lawyer working on behalf of victims and bereaved family members of the Yongsan tragedy

The six evicted persons who were indicted on matters related to the Yongsan tragedy filed a countersuit with the 27th criminal court of the Seoul Central District Court on May 14.

They are saying, “The court has tried to proceed with the trial, although the prosecutors have not followed the court’s order to make the investigation records public. We are concerned about the unfairness of the trial.” The court could decide to throw out the countersuit if they find an intention to delay the trial.

Meanwhile, the police arrested seven people, including the defense lawyer Kwon Young-kuk, who participated in a protest to criticize prosecutors and to call for public disclosure of investigation records related to the Yongsan tragedy.

Even before the protest began, members of countermeasure council that was formed to address the Yongsan tragedy and police were engaged in struggle as the police moved to prevent the protest from happening. After almost 30 minutes of struggling, approximately forty council members held the protest during which, they issued an open letter to prosecutors, saying, “Prosecutors have infringed upon the defendants’ rights to a fair trial and denied the spirit of criminal procedure laws.” They added, “Prosecutors should disclose the 3,000 pages of investigation documents that they still have not shared with defense counsel.”

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

 

Most viewed articles