[사회]Dongbu detention center confirmed patients, handed over to the government… “The key is whether the detention center is negligent”

[앵커]

At the Seoul East Detention Center, where the COVID-19 group infection continues, confirmed detainees filed a lawsuit against the government for damages and received attention.

Whether the detention center neglected overcrowding or whether the initial response to the incident was inappropriate, etc., will be an issue.

Reporter Lim Seong-ho reports.

[기자]

The confirmed detainees at the Seoul East Detention Center are protesting day after day that the poor measures of correctional authorities have caused the situation.

Even when group infections began to take off, there was a revelation that close contacts and general prisoners were held together.

In addition, there are claims that heating is not adequate, it is difficult to purchase daily necessities, and is virtually neglected.

[서울동부구치소 수용자 아버지 : 타미플루만 준대요. (수용자들이) 아프다고 소리 지르면…. 생필품을 전혀 사지도 못하고 쓰지도 못하고 비누 한 장 달랑 주고….]

Eventually, four confirmed prisoners filed a lawsuit against the government for damages.

They say that correctional authorities neglected overcrowding and did not properly isolate confirmed patients and general prisoners, causing damage.

[곽준호 / 동부구치소 수용자 소송대리인 : 서울동부구치소는 기존 수용 정원보다 더 많은 사람이 수용된 과밀하고 포화한 상태인데도, 코로나19가 유입되고 난 뒤 충분한 대응을 하지 못해서 확산시킨 데 대해 책임을 묻게 된 겁니다.]

The Ministry of Justice also admitted that the initial response was unsuccessful.

[김재술 / 법무부 의료과장 (지난 6일) : 집단감염이 최초로 발생했던 12월 19일 당시에 116.7% 정도의 과밀수용 상태였습니다. 밀접접촉자들에 대한 혼거수용이 불가피했다는 점을 말씀드립니다.]

Similar trial cases exist.

In 2017, the Busan High Court raised the hands of the detainees in a lawsuit for damages filed against the state by the detainees of the Busan detention center, saying,’The per capita detention area is too narrow.’

Last year, the Seoul Central District Court also ruled that if a space was provided to detainees less than 2㎡ due to overcrowding, the state should compensate the state as infringing on basic rights.

For this reason, there are also observations in the legal community that the chances of winning the prisoners are not small.

In an article posted on social media, an incumbent deputy judge said that the collective infection of the Eastern Detention Center is more likely to be criticized as it directly harms the lives and bodies of prisoners whose human rights are the most vulnerable.

It has also been stated that related agencies and public officials should be criminally punished or liable for compensation.

The number of confirmed prisoners related to the Eastern Detention Center has already surpassed 1,000, and the group infection continues.

According to the results of this lawsuit, we cannot rule out the possibility of a class action action involving a large number of other prisoners.

This is YTN Seongho Lim.

※’Your report becomes news’ YTN is waiting for your valuable report.
[카카오톡] Search YTN to add a channel [전화] 02-398-8585 [메일] [email protected] [온라인 제보] www.ytn.co.kr

[저작권자(c) YTN & YTN plus 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]