A South Korean court has found three former police officers guilty of destroying evidence related to the safety risks at Halloween festivities in Seoul before a deadly crowd crush in 2022. This is the first conviction of officials related to the event, in which nearly 160 people were killed. The officers were found guilty of deleting an internal report that warned of the possibility of accidents during Halloween celebrations. The court sentenced the senior official to 18 months in prison, while two other officers received suspended sentences. The convictions are part of an investigation into the incident, and the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has also been indicted. The government’s response to the disaster has faced criticism, and the president’s veto of a bill for an independent investigation has further angered the public.
This is a developing story.
2024-02-14 06:14:55
Post from www.nytimes.com
