<Anchor> The



coaches of the Incheon Para Swimming Team were arrested a few days ago on charges of habitually assaulting athletes. It was not easy to prove the allegations, but the statements of disabled athletes obtained with the help of experts became decisive evidence.



Reporter Lee Hyun-jung reports.



<Reporter>



[June 17th, SBS 8 News: The athletes of the Incheon Para Swimming Team claimed that they were assaulted several times during training, so the Sports Council launched a fact-finding investigation.]



[Player C: I was taken to the warehouse and hit the bathroom. , I was hit with slippers, I was dragged in the water, and I drank a lot of water.



I was

hit here and here.]

[Athlete D: I was sometimes dragged to the warehouse, and I was slapped in the warehouse, hit here and here.] After the



Incheon Para Swimming Federation players exposed that they were beaten habitually, the Paralympic Sports Association launched an investigation.



He then commissioned the police to investigate the manager and coach.



From elementary school students to 20s, 16 athletes with intellectual disabilities and autistic disabilities claimed damage, but it was difficult to prove it because there were no CCTVs in the swimming pool warehouse where the assault took place.



Those who were identified as perpetrators also denied the assault.



Some players were taken to the hospital, but the parents had to believe the coach's words that "he was injured in an accident during training."



The police saw it as an important incident targeting the socially disadvantaged and formed a dedicated team.



Due to the nature of the players who did not communicate well, they received a statement of damage with the help of an expert.



[Oh Seok-won / Incheon Michuhol Police Station Intelligent Crime Investigation Team Leader: In order to prevent further psychological damage, we received help from a disability rights advocacy organization or expert group.

I can't remember the specific time and place, but the overall situation was consistent.]



There was no physical evidence such as CCTV, but fortunately we found a witness.



[Oh Seok-won / Incheon Michuhol Police Station Intelligent Crime Investigation Team Leader: As time passed and there were only statements, we focused on securing witnesses.

Ordinary people swim, and people who help people with disabilities to commute to and from the swimming pool (there were witnesses.)]



After more than two months of investigation, the court arrested two coaches saying, "There is a risk of destroying evidence."



Parents are worried that their children, who have not already had a place in society, will shrink further from this incident.



[Yoo Kyung-ja / Victim’s mother (last 16 days): My heart is broken so that even words can’t contain it, we.

I want severe punishment so that something like this does not happen again.] The



police will forward the further investigation into the coach and coach to the prosecution as soon as they are finished.