By Kim Se-jeong
U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) has fired a civilian employee who is under investigation by Korean police for his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run case last month, police said Friday.
The man, whose identity was withheld, allegedly drove away in his Chevrolet Corvette after hitting a police officer who was running a check for drunk drivers on a road in Itaewon, Seoul.
Police said they had detained him because chances were high that the suspect would escape while being investigated.
“The U.S. 8th Army recently terminated its contract with the suspect, so we took him into custody,” a police officer said.
According to police, the man drove past the police officer, surnamed Seo, who was conducting a breathalyzer test. Seo attempted to stop the car, but the vehicle struck him as the driver fled, police said. The policeman sustained minor injuries to his arms and legs.
The suspect initially denied the allegations, saying he did not remember anything because of “pain in my heart.”
But police said they had secured testimony from a female passenger sitting next to the suspect that he saw the policeman approaching and stopping the vehicle, then drove away. She also said the suspect had been drinking before the incident.
After the hit-and-run case was reported, the U.S. 8th Army issued a statement last month to apologize for the incident.