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First trial military court acquitted Marine Corps Colonel Park Jung-hoon of 'suspension charges'.

2025.01.09 AM 11:11
[Anchor]
In the first trial, the military court acquitted Colonel Park Jung-hoon of defamation of the mutiny and the name of his boss, which arose in the process of transferring the results of the investigation into the death of Chae Sang-byung to the police.

I'm connecting you with a reporter from the Ministry of National Defense. Reporter Kim Moon-kyung!

Please tell us the results of the first trial.

[Reporter]
Yes, the Central Military Court in Yongsan, Seoul, acquitted Colonel Park Jung-hoon, a former head of the Marine Corps investigation, in the first trial today.

Colonel Park was previously indicted on charges of defamation of mutiny and superiors, but the military court, the first trial court, refused to accept all of them.

The military court said in its ruling that the evidence presented by the military prosecutor alone does not mean that Kim Gye-hwan, the former commander of the Marine Corps, specifically and individually ordered the transfer and holding.

In addition, the order to suspend the transfer of investigative records is not justified because the Marine commander's command and supervision scope does not have the authority to order the suspension of the transfer.

Earlier, the military prosecution demanded a three-year prison term for Colonel Park in a final trial held in November last year.As Colonel

Park is acquitted of the charges of mutiny in the first trial military court, it is expected to affect the investigation of external pressure by high-ranking military officials such as former Minister Lee Jong-seop, former Marine Corps Commander Kim Gye-hwan, and the President's Office.Illegal instructions under the

military criminal law can be appealed, because the illegal external pressure allegations that Colonel Park has made as the main basis for his innocence have gained strength.

As a result, the ruling is expected to lead to a situation in the military where it is necessary to determine whether the normal supervisor's order is a legitimate order.

However, the military court also suggested that the commanders should clearly recognize their authority before issuing the order, as it said that the scope of the command and supervision of the Marine Corps commander did not have the authority to order the suspension of the transfer.

If the military prosecution appeals against the first trial ruling of the military court, the trial will be held at the Seoul High Court, a private court, from the second trial.

I'm Kim Moon-kyung of YTN from the Ministry of National Defense.



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