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| A captured image shows a collision between a taxi and a vehicle driven by a U.S. diplomat in Yongsan District, Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times file |
By Jun Ji-hye
Controversy has been growing over an alleged hit-and-run incident involving a U.S. diplomat stationed in Korea, after it was revealed that a vehicle with four U.S. diplomats, including the driver, allegedly fled after hitting a taxi while driving in central Seoul.
According to police, Friday, the vehicle was suspected of hitting the taxi on the right side from behind while changing lanes near Namsan No. 3 Tunnel, Wednesday. Rather than stopping the car to deal with the accident, the driver kept driving to Gate 3 of U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan.
The taxi driver chased the diplomat's car up to the gate.
Police officers also came to the gate and attempted to identify the diplomat who had been behind the wheel. But the diplomat refused all police requests, including a breathalyzer test.
The three other passengers did not cooperate with police either, not even opening the car windows.
Police had no choice but to let the car enter the garrison, which is off limits to them. They could not apprehend the diplomat at the scene either, due to diplomatic immunity which protects diplomats and their families against prosecution under the host country's laws.
On the following day, police sent an official document to the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, asking for its cooperation in their investigation.
Police said they already checked video footage of the accident and are planning to investigate whether the diplomat left the scene deliberately without pulling over to deal with the accident.
"We will decide on which charges should be applied after listening to the diplomat's statement," a police officer said.
Regarding the issue, the U.S. Embassy said it disputed the account of the incident as reported in media.
The embassy, however, did not provide details about which parts of the account it disputed.
"We trust that the competent Republic of Korea law enforcement authorities will conduct a thorough and fair investigation of the matter, and we will refrain from providing further comment until that investigation has been completed," the embassy said in a statement.
According to an official from the foreign ministry, Friday, the U.S. Embassy expressed its willingness to cooperate with the police investigation.
"The U.S. Embassy is well aware of the sensitiveness of the case," the official said. "The embassy told us that it will keenly cooperate in accordance with due procedures."
Ministry spokesman Choi Young-sam also said, Thursday, "The ministry has always strictly handled unlawful acts committed by foreign diplomats stationed in this country. We will strictly handle this latest case as well, in cooperation with investigative authorities."
