A 20-year-old disabled person admitted to a rehabilitation facility for the disabled was assaulted by a social worker, resulting in bruises all over his body and broken ribs.
Yesterday (17th), the Chungju Police Station announced that they are investigating a 31-year-old social worker A (31) without detention on charges of assaulting a disabled person who entered a rehabilitation facility for the disabled where he works (violation of the Welfare Act for the Disabled).
A is charged with inflicting 8 weeks of injuries, including breaking two ribs, by assaulting a resident B (26) in a room in a rehabilitation facility for the disabled in Chungju on the 8th of last month.
Mr. B was a first-class disabled person with hearing, speech and intellectual disabilities.
The fact of this assault by Mr. A was revealed through an investigation by an organization that defends the rights of the disabled in North Chungcheong Province.
On the 9th of last month, the day after Mr. B was assaulted, another social worker found bruises on his arm and stomach and reported it to the head of the agency.
The facility notified B's family of the injury only two days after the incident, and B's parents reported the damage to the disability advocacy organization after B's hospital treatment.
In the investigation conducted, Mr. A admitted to the fact that, "Mr B entered the room because he didn't give me ramen and did not come out with the door locked, and he showed a disrespectful attitude and hit me twice."
Another employee in the hallway at the time of the incident is known to have stated, "The door was closed, so I did not know about the assault (in the room)."
The police who arrested Mr. A are investigating the exact circumstances of the incident and are investigating whether the rehabilitation facility is responsible for management.
(Photo = Yonhap News)