A ruling was issued acknowledging the government's responsibility for compensation for damages to Choi Mo (37), who was convicted of the so-called'Yakchon 5-geori murder case' in Iksan, Jeollabuk-do.
Section 45 of the Civil Agreement of the Seoul Central District Court (Deputy Judge Lee Seong-ho) said, "The state pays 1.3 billion won to Choi" in a lawsuit filed by Choi against the state and the police officers and prosecutors who investigated the case. Ruled.
The court ruled that the state pay a total of 300 million won to Choi's two family members.
Choi was convicted of stabbing and murdering a taxi driver Yu Mo (42 at the time) near Yakchon 5-Fork in Yeongdeung-dong, Iksan, Jeollabuk-do at around 2 am on August 10, 2000, when he was 16 years old, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
In 2003, when Choi was serving in prison, the police captured Mo (40) Kim after obtaining information that there was a separate criminal, but closed the case because there was no physical evidence.
Choi, who was released from prison, requested a retrial, claiming that he confessed falsely in 2013 because he was unable to overcome police coercion.
In November 2016, the court pleaded not guilty to Choi, saying, "The accused was subjected to harsh acts such as illegal arrest and imprisonment."
When Choi was found not guilty, the police arrested Kim again, and Kim was later convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison in the Supreme Court.
(Photo = Yonhap News)