In abuse case, death penalty is requested

Military prosecutors yesterday sought the death sentence for an Army sergeant, only identified as Lee, 26, who is charged with leading a group of soldiers in the systematic abuse of a young conscript that ultimately resulted in his death. Prosecutors also requested life sentences for three of his accomplices.

“Given the combination of evidence, we have concluded that the convict [Lee] can be charged with murder,” the prosecution stated yesterday at the military court in Gyeonggi.

Four soldiders in the Army’s 28th Infantry Division were charged on Sept. 2 for murder after it was discovered in July that they had attempted to cover up the details of the private’s death. The young conscript, surnamed Yun, died April 6 after enduring extreme physical and sexual abuse by his superiors.

Investigators concluded last month that his death was caused primarily by crush syndrome, which results from major trauma to skeletal muscle, and secondary shock from prolonged violence.

BY KIM EUN-JI [eunjik@joongang.co.kr]