When and where will Bozorov Akmal’s retrial begin?

The first hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Nov. 12 at Changwon District Court in Changwon, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

What investigative issues did Akmal’s lawyer raise in seeking a retrial?

Park Jun-young pointed to alleged problems with forensic opinions about the victim’s neck wounds, the taxi routes, National Forensic Service records, phone logs and testimony about the weapon. He also raised allegations that investigators physically assaulted and coerced Akmal.

Retrial to begin next week for Uzbek national convicted of murder, robbery 16 years ago

Q: Why did the court grant Bozorov Akmal a retrial?

The court said police falsely told Akmal that his DNA had been found at the crime scene and that the victim was still alive in order to extract a confession. It also found that his right to an interpreter had been violated.

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Summary

Changwon District Court will begin a retrial next week in Changwon for Bozorov Akmal, who received a life sentence for killing and robbing a taxi driver in 2009. The first hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Nov. 12. The court reopened the case after finding that police falsely claimed Akmal’s DNA was at the crime scene and that the victim was alive to obtain a confession, and that his right to an interpreter was violated. The Changwon District Prosecutors Office said it heavily accepts the human rights violations and will base future proceedings on objective evidence and legal principles.

Key Facts

The Supreme Court finalized Akmal’s life sentence in 2010 for robbing and killing a taxi driver in Changwon in March 2009.
Akmal’s first retrial request was rejected in 2015, and he filed a second petition in January last year through defense attorney Park Jun-young.
Park cited alleged flaws involving forensic opinions on the victim’s neck wounds, taxi routes, National Forensic Service records, phone logs and testimony about the weapon.
The court suspended Akmal’s prison sentence when it decided on Oct. 15 to reopen the case.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 2, 2026 2:36 pm KST
Updated Nov 2, 2026 3:48 pm KST

Bozorov Akmal, a 37-year-old Uzbek national, hugs his father after being released from Changwon Prison in Changwon, South Gyeongang Province, Oct. 15. Yonhap

A court will open a retrial next week for an Uzbek national who was sentenced to life in prison 16 years ago for killing and robbing a taxi driver in 2009, legal sources said Monday.

According to the sources, the first hearing of the retrial for Bozorov Akmal, 37, will begin at 11 a.m. on Nov. 12 at the Changwon District Court in Changwon, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

The Supreme Court finalized Akmal's life imprisonment in 2010 on charges of robbing and killing a 50-something taxi driver in Changwon in March 2009. After his first request for a retrial was rejected in 2015, he filed a second petition in January last year through Park Jun-young, a defense attorney known for handling retrial cases.

Park pointed out numerous flaws in the original investigation, including forensic opinions on the victim's neck wounds, taxi routes, records from the National Forensic Service, phone logs and testimony regarding the weapon. He also raised allegations of physical assault and coercion by investigators.

On Oct. 15, the court decided to reopen Akmal's case and suspended his prison sentence, acknowledging that police lied to Akmal by falsely claiming his DNA was found at the crime scene and that the victim was still alive in order to extract a confession. The court also said his right to an interpreter had been violated.

Following the court's decision, the Changwon District Prosecutors Office said it "heavily accepts the human rights violations during the investigation at the time," emphasizing they will carry out future proceedings based on objective evidence and legal principles.

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