Ex-commander indicted over negligent death of Marine in 2023

In this file photo, Lim Seong-geun, former commander of the Marine Corps 1st Division, appears for questioning at the office of special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon's team in Seoul, July 2. Yonhap

A special counsel team indicted a former Marine commander on Monday on charges of negligently causing the death of a young Marine in 2023.

The indictment of Lim Seong-geun, former commander of the Marine Corps 1st Division, marks the first time the team, led by special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon, has filed charges against a suspect since its launch in July.

Lim is accused of ordering search operations for victims of heavy rains in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, in July 2023 without providing life vests and other safety equipment.

Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who was involved in the search operation, died after being swept away in a swollen stream.

The special counsel team also charged Lim for allegedly disobeying orders to transfer operational control to the Army.

It said the former commander appeared to have pushed for the risky operations to promote and publicize his accomplishments.

Four other military officials involved the operations were also indicted on charges of causing negligent death, it said.

The results reverse findings by the police and then the prosecution that Lim could not be found responsible for the Marine's death.

The team's mandate is to investigate whether former President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration interfered in an initial military probe into Chae's death in order to clear Lim of responsibility.

Yoon is scheduled to appear for questioning Tuesday.