2011-02-24 19:21

 

6 months into the investigation...Victims' lawyers to be appointed

 

 

[AsiaToday=Hong Kyung-hwan and Choi Seok-jin, reporters] Military authorities are investigating a former gendarmerie officer who pretended to be a director of a private foundation and investors in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme, and then allegedly tried to cover it up.

On the 24th, according to the Ministry of National Defense, the military prosecutor's office, and those involved in the case, the victim, A. Park, filed a complaint with the military authorities in August last year, alleging that a gendarmerie lieutenant colonel was engaged in fraudulent activities, but the military prosecutor's office did not show much sincerity in the investigation for six months, and recently moved to dismiss the case without charge.

In response, A. Park recently went to a lawyer for help."I keep asking the military prosecutor's office to interview Lieutenant Colonel Park, but the military prosecutor's office is refusing to do so," Mr. A said.

Lieutenant Colonel Park was confirmed to have served in the Uijeongbu 6th Corps Gendarmerie Detachment from February 2006 to March 2008 and is currently the deputy commander of the Army Capital Corps Gendarmerie.

Mr. A is in the complaint, he said, "Lieutenant Colonel Park, while serving as a gendarmerie officer, 'Social Services Senior Director Park allegedly distributed business cards with the name "Park Ooo" to attract investors.

Attorney Song Soo-hyun (Law Firm Hanbyul), the victim's representative, said, "According to the victim's statement, Lieutenant Colonel Park was doing things that could not be done as a soldier." He added, "In his studies, he had his wife, and in reality, he carried his own business card as a director and used his position to deceive investors by using his own words."

Song also said, "These allegations against Lieutenant Colonel Park can be easily verified by checking the records of the military post, but the military prosecutor has been delaying the investigation for several months, so the victim is in a position to think that the military is trying to cover up the case." He added, "The original complaint filed by Victim A was one charge of fraud, but this time, the submitted an amicus curiae brief, which also included allegations of clear violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, such as desertion of military duty."

In addition to the opinion letter to the military prosecutor's office, Song recently filed a civil lawsuit with the court, seeking more than 100 million won in damages, and reportedly requested that Park's salary be garnished.<"While being investigated by the military prosecutor's office, I repeatedly asked about the status of the investigation, only to be told, 'The account is being traced,'" said B, another victim who served in the same gendarmerie and retired this year."

In response, a Defense Ministry official said, "We are proceeding with the investigation normally."

Colonel Park reportedly applied for retirement after the case came to light.

Meanwhile, it is unclear whether the victims will be able to recover their losses, as garnishment of military retirement pensions is prohibited.

<Kyunghwan Hong

, Seokjin Choi Reporting arme99@asiatoday.co.kr, csj0404@asiatoday.co.kr>

{ⓒ 'Global Stone Gap Comprehensive Daily' Asia Today}