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The head of Saekdongwon, a residence for people with serious disabilities located in Ganghwa County, Incheon, known as A, has been handed over to prosecutors for alleged sexual abuse of individuals with disabilities.

On the 27th, the Saekdongwon Special Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated that A was arrested and sent to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office for violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act and the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act. Concerning two former Saekdongwon teachers, B and C, who are currently under non-custodial investigation for allegedly assaulting individuals with disabilities, the police mentioned they will refer the case back to the original jurisdiction, the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, once the investigation is complete. A is accused of sexually assaulting female individuals with disabilities or pressuring them into quasi-sexual acts under the guise of life guidance. It was reported that the “in-depth investigation report” submitted by Ganghwa County, Incheon, to the investigative body included statements from all 17 female disabled residents and two former residents who claimed they were sexually assaulted by A.

The police are currently carrying out a comprehensive investigation focusing on all facility staff and present and past residents to find out if further crimes took place at Saekdongwon aside from those involving A, B, and C. The individuals under scrutiny consist of 87 disabled people and 240 employees who have been associated with Saekdongwon since it opened in 2008. Initially, the number of staff members was reported as 152, but the number of people being investigated has now risen to 240 after additional personnel were confirmed by the Ganghwa County Office recently. Throughout this process, the police have newly identified eight individuals believed to have been attacked or held against their will and have gathered personal details on four staff members accused of committing these acts. It is also reported that the police have started internal investigations into an additional 67 staff members.

In the meantime, authorities are also looking into whether around 1 billion South Korean won in yearly subsidies and disability payments were correctly handled at Saekdongwon. Regarding this matter, police carried out a search and seizure on the 20th at Saekdongwon and at the home of facility director A.

The authorities said, “We will act quickly and firmly, including obtaining and reviewing further detailed reports from private organizations.”

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