On the 8th, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae said, “We have taken appropriate steps to do so,” while two people were killed in the outbreak of a new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) in the eastern detention center in Seoul.
On this day, the cumulative number of confirmed cases related to the eastern detention center increased to 1177, and the second death occurred the day before. To date, a total of three deaths related to correctional facilities were counted.
At a general meeting of the National Assembly’s Judiciary Committee on the same day, Minister Chu said, “After one employee was first confirmed on November 27 of last year, we ordered a close contact inspection and all voices came out.” “It was in accordance with the guidelines of the quarantine authorities. I can’t say that I didn’t take appropriate measures.”
“When the prisoners entered the hospital on November 30th, they provided masks of KF-80 or higher, and ordered the strengthening of quarantine in correctional facilities nationwide,” he said. “On December 14th, when the prisoners were first confirmed, a full inspection was requested, but the quarantine authorities confirmed the trend. I had to respect them just because I wanted to see them,” he added.
In particular, criticizing that he missed the Golden Time because he did not immediately isolate the confirmed patients, he replied, “Please understand the special circumstances of the eastern detention center,” and “the root cause is an excessive number of prisoners.” He said, “From the point of view, it seems that a large number of asymptomatic prisoners have entered the Eastern detention center after the social amplification.”
Accordingly, Rep. Kim Do-eup said, “It was not the minister, the vice minister, the head of the correctional headquarters, the head of the detention center, but the officer of the Dongbu detention center who requested the full investigation.” did.
When asked about the punishment plan for the prisoners of the Eastern Detention Center who showed the’Please Save’ picket out the window, Minister Chu said, “I will be anxious if an infectious disease occurs in a situation where physical freedom is limited,” he said. “We are focusing on quarantine rather than punishment.” .
Rep. Cho Su-jin of the People’s Strength insisted on the purpose of the Severe Disaster Punishment Act, which strengthens punishment for companies and managers in the event of industrial accidents or major accidents, “the President should be held accountable and the Minister of Justice should receive criminal punishment.”
In response, Minister Chu said, “I am very sorry to the people about the situation in the Eastern Detention Center.”
Reporter Seok-Hyun Ko [email protected]