Bigger net cast to catch draft dodgers
Published: 23 Sep. 2009, 00:23
Investigations into draft dodging are to be intensified following a spate of recent scandals, according to the National Police Agency on Monday.
The agency said it will focus five alleged cases, involving missing medical records after a would-be enlisted man was exempted from service, immunity from military service after a number of enlisting delays and a sudden exemption after being recruited for active duty after the first and second physical examination.
“We are going to investigate for suspected draft-dodging scams through local military manpower administrations. After obtaining search warrants, we will get lists of medical insurance payments from the National Health Insurance Corporation,” said Park Sang-yung, an investigation officer at the police agency. Park said a warrant is required for obtaining the lists because they are regarded as personal information.
The Military Manpower Administration is an agency under the Ministry of National Defense. The police said they are also planning a probe into an orthopedic clinic in Gangnam, southern Seoul that allegedly performed shoulder surgery on draft-dodgers enabling them to get out of their military duty. Investigators will request lists of other clinics that have issued written diagnoses for new recruits.
In addition, cyber investigators will collaborate on the probe since online communities provide information on how to evade military service.
But Kil Young-in, a lawyer on behalf of the orthopedic clinic, refuted police allegations on Monday. “The Ilsan Police Precinct had distorted the expertise of a medical doctor who managed shoulder operations. The head of the clinic told me that the doctor was an expert and there was no problem after the operations.”
Police had requested expert opinion from a doctor last week after looking at seven of the alleged 203 cases of phony surgery. The Ilsan precinct said during a briefing Saturday that the doctor delivered his opinion that six of the cases were unnecessary.
Meanwhile, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency arrested a 31-year-old military service broker surnamed Cha on Monday on charges of assisting would-be enlisted men to postpone physical checkups. Police found Cha received between 400,000 won ($332) and 1.2 million won from 97 men after tracking down his banking account.
Previously on Saturday, the Seoul police agency detained a 32-year-old military service broker, identified only as Yun, on charges of assisting 47 men avoid military duty, enlist at a later date or be allowed to do community service instead.
By Jang Joo-young, Lee Min-yong [[email protected]]
The agency said it will focus five alleged cases, involving missing medical records after a would-be enlisted man was exempted from service, immunity from military service after a number of enlisting delays and a sudden exemption after being recruited for active duty after the first and second physical examination.
“We are going to investigate for suspected draft-dodging scams through local military manpower administrations. After obtaining search warrants, we will get lists of medical insurance payments from the National Health Insurance Corporation,” said Park Sang-yung, an investigation officer at the police agency. Park said a warrant is required for obtaining the lists because they are regarded as personal information.
The Military Manpower Administration is an agency under the Ministry of National Defense. The police said they are also planning a probe into an orthopedic clinic in Gangnam, southern Seoul that allegedly performed shoulder surgery on draft-dodgers enabling them to get out of their military duty. Investigators will request lists of other clinics that have issued written diagnoses for new recruits.
In addition, cyber investigators will collaborate on the probe since online communities provide information on how to evade military service.
But Kil Young-in, a lawyer on behalf of the orthopedic clinic, refuted police allegations on Monday. “The Ilsan Police Precinct had distorted the expertise of a medical doctor who managed shoulder operations. The head of the clinic told me that the doctor was an expert and there was no problem after the operations.”
Police had requested expert opinion from a doctor last week after looking at seven of the alleged 203 cases of phony surgery. The Ilsan precinct said during a briefing Saturday that the doctor delivered his opinion that six of the cases were unnecessary.
Meanwhile, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency arrested a 31-year-old military service broker surnamed Cha on Monday on charges of assisting would-be enlisted men to postpone physical checkups. Police found Cha received between 400,000 won ($332) and 1.2 million won from 97 men after tracking down his banking account.
Previously on Saturday, the Seoul police agency detained a 32-year-old military service broker, identified only as Yun, on charges of assisting 47 men avoid military duty, enlist at a later date or be allowed to do community service instead.
By Jang Joo-young, Lee Min-yong [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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