In the "Ansan Pub Part-time Worker" case, where a sexual assault victim died following the police's decision not to forward the case, it was revealed that the victim requested the appointment of a public defender on the day the case was filed, but the police left the request ignored for over 10 days.
According to the office of Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Ki-pyo, the Ansan Danwon Police Station in Gyeonggi Province received a report regarding a sexual assault at a pub from the victim on December 28 of last year.
During the investigation on that day, the victim was informed that a public defender could be appointed and immediately expressed her intent to have one. However, the police applied to the prosecution for the appointment of the victim's attorney on January 8 of this year, which was the 11th day after the report was filed.
The public defender was assigned the very next day, January 9. Yet, until the police decided not to forward the case with a conclusion of "no charges" on February 18, not a single additional investigation was conducted regarding the victim.
This meant that the initial investigation, conducted without legal representation, was the victim's only investigation.
At the time, the police cited the "lack of additional submission of materials by the victim" as one of the reasons for the decision not to forward the case. Critics point out that the police themselves delayed the appointment process for legal counsel, who should have aided in the initial response, thereby preventing the victim from receiving timely legal assistance.
Regarding the circumstances behind the delayed application for a public defender, the police explained, "After the victim expressed her intent to appoint a public defender, the assigned police officer was busy conducting witness and crime scene investigations, which caused the delay."
The victim public defender system is a program where the state provides free legal representation to ensure that victims of crimes such as sexual violence do not face disadvantages in criminal proceedings. Police regulations require them to notify the prosecutor immediately when a victim requests an appointment.
However, critics note that applications for public defenders are still processed via fax and phone, creating a structure where it is difficult for the prosecution service to detect even if the police delay the application.
Previously, a teenage female working part-time at an Ansan pub late last year filed a complaint alleging she was sexually assaulted by the pub owner. After the police decided not to forward the case in February, she took her own life while expressing feelings of injustice.
The prosecution service, which subsequently initiated supplementary investigations, overturned the police's decision and indicted the pub owner.
Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Kihyun | Design by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
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