Na-young’s father testifies against prosecutors

The father of an 8-year-old rape victim testified in court on Monday that prosecutors forced him not to copy the records of their investigation into Cho Du-sun, who brutally assaulted the girl known as Na-young in 2008.

The family of the girl, who has been identified only through that alias, filed suit against the Korean government seeking 30 million won ($26,400) in compensation for the prosecutors’ actions, and trial began Monday at the Seoul Central District Court.

“I asked prosecutors to read and copy the results of their investigations into the case last November, when public interest was at its peak,” said Na-young’s father, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “But one prosecutor asked me why I wanted to see the records at such a sensitive time. So I submitted a signed memorandum agreeing to waive the reading.”

Cho In-sup, a lawyer who is representing Na-young’s family, said, “After the rapist was arrested, prosecutors took so long to give the appeals court a CD with a video recording of his statement that the victim was subjected to unnecessary examination.”

The lawyer also said that prosecutors unreasonably summoned the child, who was under medical treatment, and did not provide her with transportation.

Lim Hui-seong of the Ansan branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office, denied the allegations. “We told the victim’s father that the convicted rapist’s consent was needed after the father tried to copy the probe result,” he said. “We never told him to give up copying unconditionally. Prosecutors summoned the child after getting permission from her parents. The parents refused transportation assistance and told us they would take a taxi.”

Lim added that the criminal’s lawyer asked the court to summon the child as a witness because he strongly denied the charges.

The Seoul court ordered prosecutors to organize and submit their regulations regarding field investigations and the date and time prosecutors questioned Na-young.

Cho Du-sun kidnapped Na-young on Dec. 11, 2008. He took her to a toilet in a nearby church, strangled and beat her unconscious, then raped her, severely damaging her lower organs.

Although prosecutors sought a life sentence, the Suwon District Court in Ansan sentenced Cho to 12 years. The sentence prompted public outrage.

By Lee Hyun-taek [smartpower@joongang.co.kr]