Military police launch probe into alleged motor drill violence in Army

(123rf)

Military police said Monday they had launched an investigation after a report that a sergeant had abused a soldier with a motor drill.

According to a military statement, a sergeant at a unit located in the greater Seoul metropolitan area was reported Sunday for using a motor drill on the arm of a soldier on Friday. The names of the perpetrator and victim have not been disclosed.

The sergeant appeared at the unit's cafeteria with a motor drill in his hand and, without warning, began to drill into the arm of the soldier, who was cleaning the area at the time. The victim claimed the blade of the drill ripped his clothes and cut into his skin.

The perpetrator reportedly left the scene right away after saying he was "sorry," leaving the victim behind to tend to his wound by himself.

The victim later reported the incident to higher-ups, demanding a genuine apology and the prevention of a recurrence of such an incident. However, the apology was not made and the unit superiors tried to cover up the case, according to the victim.

The victim relayed the incident and the unit’s poor response to family during a visit, and the family reported it to the Defense Help Call -- a military hotline set up for consultation and reporting crimes. The unit belatedly separated the victim and the perpetrator only after the report from the victim’s family and the start of the military police's investigation.

"The unit is taking the issue very seriously. Based on the results of the military police investigation, we will deal with the matter strictly, according to laws and regulations,” Bae Seok-jin, head of the Army's Seoul Public Information Team, said in a regular briefing Monday.

By Lee Jung-youn(jy@heraldcorp.com)