Seoul’s former police chief was found not guilty of negligence in the wake of the city’s Itaewon nightlife district’s Halloween crowd-crunching that resulted in the death of 159 revelers in 2022, according to a South Korean court on Thursday ( October 17 ).
In contrast to the three-year prison term the former police captain of the damaged area received in September, the Seoul Western District Court acquitted Kim Kwang-ho, the highest-ranking authorities established indicted for the event.
The judge alleged that the lower-ranking official, who controls the city area where Itaewon is located, lacked the necessary preparation, which the court claimed led to the lover almost two years ago.
However, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s previous head found “insufficient proof” that he had violated his precise and clear duty of care in the lead-up and initial response to the incident in the case of Kim.
The trial must appeal the decision, according to an organization of activist groups that is urging the prosecution to do so, saying it defied the wishes of grieving families who demanded a more difficult result.
Reuters was unable to contact trial officials right away to request opinion.