Indian man says Hwaseong detention staff taped his mouth and choked him during deportation
In short
An Indian man deported from South Korea on August 27 has filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission, alleging that staff of the Hwaseong Foreigners' Detention Center wrapped duct tape over his mouth, covered his face with a ski mask and choked him during his removal. Footage shown at a parliamentary audit on October 8 shows officers choking him after he said he would not resist. Acting Justice Minister Lee Jin-su said deporting him wrapped in tape was "clearly wrong".
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An Indian national, identified only as A, filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea on October 2 through his legal representative, alleging that staff of the Hwaseong Foreigners' Detention Center (화성외국인보호소) violated his bodily freedom and human dignity while escorting him out of the country on August 27. He asked the commission to investigate, saying he had also been denied the chance to appeal, apply for refugee status and receive outside help. [ 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
According to the complaint, A had been held at the center for about eight months; under the Immigration Control Act, foreigners subject to deportation may be held for up to nine months. On the morning of his deportation an officer told him to pack and move to another room because of a conflict in his room. Just before the removal, staff showed him a Korean-language document rejecting his application for temporary release; he says his requests for a translation and his repeated questions about applying for refugee status were ignored. [ 3 , 6 , 7 ]
In the escort vehicle to the airport, several layers of duct tape were wrapped over his mouth and a ski mask covering everything but his eyes was put on him, in addition to handcuffs and body protection equipment, the complaint says. A alleges he was slapped and choked before boarding, and that his phone was returned only just before he left the gate in India. Hankook Ilbo reported he also said he was slapped just after bodycams were turned off and went hours without drinking water. [ 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Park Eun-jung (박은정), a lawmaker of the Rebuilding Korea Party (조국혁신당), showed footage submitted by the Justice Ministry at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the ministry on October 8. In it, A says "I go myself" and "I will not fight" while officers press down on him and choke him, warning "Stop talking". Maeil Business and Hankook Ilbo reported an officer warning he could hit A if there was trouble on the plane. In further footage given to Hankook Ilbo, an officer tells A to choose between walking with them or going tied up "like a mummy". [ 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Park cited an earlier "shrimp-bending" (새우꺾기) mistreatment case at the same center, in which a court ruled that cable ties and box tape have no legal basis as protective equipment, and said A's mouth had been sealed with duct tape, which is stronger than box tape. [ 3 , 7 , 8 ]
Acting Justice Minister Lee Jin-su (이진수) said the tape is not designated as protective equipment and that deporting A wrapped like that was "clearly wrong". He said the ministry would decide on discipline after establishing the facts and refer the case for investigation if it amounted to a crime. Hankook Ilbo reported the ministry's inspector general said an inspection would follow if needed. [ 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Why it matters
The acting justice minister admitted the use of tape was wrong and said staff could face discipline and a criminal referral. The complainant has also asked the human rights commission to recommend standards on the use of force and protective equipment.
Key facts
- An Indian national, identified as A, filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission on October 2 through his legal representative. [ 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- He alleges staff of the Hwaseong Foreigners' Detention Center violated his bodily freedom and human dignity while escorting him out of the country on August 27. [ 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- According to the complaint, several layers of duct tape were wrapped over his mouth and a ski mask was put over his face, on top of handcuffs and body protection equipment. [ 3 , 6 , 7 ]
- He had been held at the center for about eight months; the Immigration Control Act allows deportees to be held for up to nine months. [ 3 , 6 , 7 ]
- Lawmaker Park Eun-jung showed footage from the Justice Ministry at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the ministry on October 8. [ 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Acting Justice Minister Lee Jin-su said the tape is not designated as protective equipment and deporting him wrapped like that was clearly wrong. [ 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Lee said the ministry would decide on discipline after establishing the facts and refer the case for investigation if it amounted to a crime. [ 6 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The man filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission on October 2 over his deportation on August 27. [ 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Footage shows the man saying "I go myself" and "I will not fight" while officers choke him. [ 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- An officer is heard warning that he could hit the man if there was trouble on the plane. [ 6 , 8 ]
- Lee Jin-su said the tape is not designated as protective equipment and deporting the man wrapped like that was clearly wrong. [ 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Park cited an earlier court ruling in the "shrimp-bending" case at the same center that cable ties and box tape have no legal basis as protective equipment. [ 3 , 7 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the man was slapped just after bodycams were turned off, went hours without drinking water and had to use the aircraft toilet with the door open. These are the man's claims, reported only by Hankook Ilbo, and the ministry's response to them is not reported.
- Whether the officers involved will be disciplined or referred for investigation. The ministry said it would decide after establishing the facts; no outcome is reported.
- Whether the human rights commission will open an investigation. The documents report the complaint but no response from the commission.
- Lee Jin-su's exact title. Maeil Business calls him vice justice minister and acting minister; the other outlets call him acting justice minister.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The man is deported after being escorted from the Hwaseong Foreigners' Detention Center. [ 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- He files a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission through his legal representative. [ 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Park Eun-jung shows the footage at the parliamentary audit of the Justice Ministry; Lee Jin-su calls the tape use clearly wrong. [ 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Yonhap reports the complaint. [ 3 ]
- Hankook Ilbo publishes further footage obtained from Park's office. [ 8 ]