South Korean military indicts 15 over death of harassment victim

ANKARA (AA) – The South Korean military prosecutors have indicted 15 people in a case of sexual harassment that forced a female air force officer to commit suicide.

The announcement on Thursday came after the military concluded its investigation that was ordered by the President Moon Jae-in after the incident, Yonhap News Agency cited the Defense Ministry as saying.

The investigators also recommended 38 other officials for disciplinary actions, however they tried to protect the senior officials who were in charge at the time, according to the report.

“Based on testimonies, circumstances at the time of the incident and related precedents, we concluded that there was not enough evidence to acknowledge charges raised against them,” the agency cited the defense ministry as saying.

A female air force officer who allegedly committed suicide was sexually assaulted by her colleague in a car in early March and reported the case to some of her seniors.

The incident caused huge criticism of the military and President Moon Jae-in offered a public apology over her death and also ordered a thorough probe into the crime and how the authorities handled it.

Later, authorities arrested the accused officer in June, only after the case became known to the media, and is currently standing trial.

* Writing by Islamuddin Sajid