Seocho Police Protest

On Tuesday, April 24, 2012, Seocho Police concluded the “Devil Equus” case hastily without a thorough investigation. The driver was acquitted.

The investigation should have been based on diverse aspects, including the possibility that the dog was not the driver’s dog and CCTV recordings. The police concluded that the driver had no intention to hurt the dog based solely on the driver’s statement. Obviously, such a hasty decision would not have happened if the victim had been a human.

CARE demands a full and thorough investigation. We cannot take the word of the man who is being charged as the only evidence.

In order to demonstrate our discontent with the Seocho Police department’s decision and to demand a thorough investigation, CARE staged a silent protest in front of the Seocho Police Department.

Soon after starting the surprise silent demonstration, police rushed in and surrounded us. They threatened to arrest us and shut down our protest. They interrupted media interviews and our performance. But So-Yeon, the Director of CARE, stood strong and told them they had no legal right to arrest us. Fortunately, police backed down and no one was arrested.

CARE and KAAP had a meeting with the investigation unit of “Devil Equus” after the surprise demonstration in front of the Seocho police station.

Some information about the case was revealed:

• the owner of the Equus is a male in his late forties.
• the dog was a beagle
• the car was traveling from Singal, Yongin to Hannam, Seoul
• Police received a testimony from the designated driver
• Police received a testimony from the owner of the restaurant where the Equss owner drank the night of the incident
• a person gave the beagle to the Equss owner because he didn’t want to raise the dog anymore

Here is a transcript of the conversation between CARE and the Seocho Police Department:

CARE : Did you check whether the beagle’s former owner was the real owner? If he was the real owner, he must have some proof, like pictures showing him raising this dog. You have to investigate this point because if it is not true, the beagle was taken for other purposes from the restaurant. It’s important to know why the dog ended up in the Equus owner’s hands. Investigate this point.

The Police : We didn’t investigate whether he really was the beagle’s former owner. We just heard statements.

CARE : Statements of people who are friends with the driver of the Equus are not objective. Don’t hurry to end this investigation. CARE can find other witnesses right now. You have to investigate more thoroughly. Take enough time and decode the CCTV film of roads where the Equus went by. Investigate whether the driver was driving while intentionally ignoring other driver’s warnings.

The Police : We think the statements are objective because the designated driver and the restaurant owner have nothing to do with Equus owner. We checked the location where Equus owner buried the dog and saw the dead dog’s body. We also found a crucifix. We don’t think he dragged the dog with intention.

CARE : This case originated 2-3 days ago. If he is real animal abuser, he would have had enough time to make an alibi. There was more than enough time to dig a grave and place a crucifix. He could have called a designated driver and the restaurant. He uploaded his original explanation in writing. The reason he put the dog in the trunk was because he didn’t want to get dirt in the interior of the car. After the public’s angry response to this explanation, it’s likely he faked being apologetic. He never showed regret until now. What’s worse, he made a threatening phone call and said he would sue Hyo-ri Lee, the Korean singer for defamation. This is the kind of person he is.

The Police : He is not such a man. Maybe he didn’t call them. We don’t think he made those calls because he didn’t show such character when he talked to us.

CARE : Aren’t police supposed to judge all things with suspicion? What about his attitude toward the police? How can you assure that he didn’t call them?

The Police : But he’s not such a person.

CARE : What is the relation between you and him? Why are you speaking for the driver of the Equus without evidence?

The Police : …………………………..

CARE : The police have to check and get a statement from the person who uploaded the first writing to the website “Bobae dream”. That person is the only witness to the last spot where the driver got out of the Equus.  The police have to obtain more statements. First, did he really ride with a designated driver? Second, if it was true, how did they act after getting out of the car? We think that you can use the writer’s id of “Bobae dream” for finding his identity. If it is difficult for him to report to the police, you have to get something like a written answer or statements from a phone call.

The Police : We don’t have any such idea. The animal protection organization which contacted the writer of “Bobae dream” said they don’t want to pass the personal information of the writer because the writer doesn’t want to meet the police.

CARE : It may be so, but do the police have to close the investigation? If that animal organization doesn’t know how to persuade him more, the police have to contact and persuade him. He could feel a lot of pressure about meeting with the police, but if you persuade him more, you can get more statements from him.

The Police : We are not going to persuade a man who already feels pressure. There is no use persuading.

CARE : You don’t think about that when you don’t need to. You just do what you want!  The writer is the most important witness! If this event was a murder case, what would you do?

 The Police:……………………….

CARE : Did the driver of the Equus really call a designated driver? Did you investigate facts from the phone record with the designated driver or his request to the company?

The Police : We checked that directly.

CARE : Where is the beagle’s dead body? How far did you check?

The Police : We went to the spot where the beagle had been buried and took a picture. We got a shot of the crucifix, too.

CARE : Is that a beagle? Can we see that picture?

The Police : Yes. We can also show other pictures of his home. He raises many animals. We think he didn’t do this with intention because he has been bringing up many animals.

CARE : We want to check the picture to see how he raises animals.

( Pictures are taken of the pictures)

CARE : A lot of people are angry and want you to investigate more accurately. Why are you closing the investigation?

The Police : We investigated in a hurry because many people are concerned with this event. So we are going to close it quickly.

CARE : Who told you you have to close in a hurry? What people want is a proper investigation, not a rapid investigation.  In a murder case, would you close the investigation with few men’s statements?

The Police : …………………………..

CARE : Can you check some of the CCTV footage? It’s not an unknown road; it is Kyoungboo highway. It doesn’t make sense to drive with the trunk open on the highway. You have to check the CCTV footage.

The Police : We have no idea. It’s no use. If it is necessary, we’ll check that. But it isn’t necessary.

CARE : Don’t you think there is a need for more investigation?

The Police : We don’t think so.

CARE : Show us the pictures again.

<after checking>

CARE : These are float cages. There are many rabbits and dogs. Is this an animal farm?

The Police : He said that he put Jindo and chawoo-chawoo together for cross breeding

CARE : Right. He is a breeder, he isn’t a normal owner of a companion animal. Perhaps this is why he treated the dog so maliciously? Do you have the right judgement? At least, you should wait to hear from an expert. And this picture only shows two feet of the dog. The others are buried under the ground. Why did you judge that dog was a beagle without more digging? Why did you take a picture only after shallow digging in a hurry?  Have you been investigating like this forever? We will never stop this protest. We will let other people know about all the things Seocho police do to handle a matter with more haste than caution.

The Police : Don’t talk to us like a rough-and-ready investigation. It’s time to leave.