Joint Investigation Team into Seoul Halloween Crowd Crush Ends Operations After 14 Months; Oh Se-hoon and Others Not Indicted

[Financial News] The prosecutors-police joint investigation team formed to uncover the truth about the Seoul Halloween crowd crush ended its operations on the 30th, ahead of the implementation of the amended Criminal Procedure Act and the transition to the Public Prosecution Office. The team decided not to indict Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who was accused of failing to take necessary measures before the crowd crush, saying it was difficult to establish the charges.
The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office of the Republic of Korea (SPO) said that day, "The joint investigation team for uncovering the truth about the Seoul Halloween crowd crush will end its operations today in accordance with the implementation of the amended Criminal Procedure Act and other changes."
After reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, mobile phone forensic data, statements from relevant parties and applicable legal principles, the joint investigation team determined that it was difficult to establish the charges of occupational negligence resulting in death or injury against Mayor Oh.
The team also decided not to indict the former acting commissioner of the National Fire Agency on charges of dereliction of duty for neglecting his responsibilities as head of the Central Emergency Rescue Control Unit. It likewise declined to indict the former head of Yongsan District Office and others on charges of destroying evidence after replacing their mobile phones following the crowd crush, as well as officials from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and other agencies on charges of dereliction of duty for leaving false reports made during the parliamentary investigation unaddressed.
After being established at the Seoul Western District Public Prosecutors’ Office on July 30 last year, the joint investigation team investigated the causes of the Seoul Halloween crowd crush and cases of secondary victimization based on requests from the Special Investigation Commission, the 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association and individual bereaved family members.
On April 24, the team indicted without detention the former chief of Yongsan Fire Station on charges of occupational negligence resulting in death or injury, following a request for investigation from the Special Investigation Commission. The former command team leader of Yongsan Fire Station, who was referred for investigation alongside him, was not indicted.
Regarding cases of secondary victimization targeting victims and bereaved family members, the team indicted three people while they were in custody, including a judicial scrivener detained and indicted in January for posting numerous defamatory comments related to the crowd crush.
The joint investigation team also decided not to indict suspects in cases requested by the 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Association and the Special Investigation Commission where it determined that the charges were difficult to establish. Cases deemed to require continued investigation were transferred to the Korean National Police Agency the same day.
The SPO stated, "Prosecutors and police worked closely and communicated organically while investigating the Seoul Halloween crowd crush, which caused extensive loss of life," adding, "Even after the joint investigation team ends its operations and the transition to the Public Prosecution Office, we will ensure that investigations continue without any gaps through substantive cooperation with the police."
 
[email protected] Choi Eun-sol Reporter