By Lee Hyo-jin
The national human rights agency has urged the law enforcement authorities to provide better interpretation services for non-Koreans during legal procedures even if they can speak some Korean, after a case in which a Moroccan man went through a police investigation here without an interpreter.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) made the recommendation on Monday to the National Police Agency to ensure that foreign nationals, who are unfamiliar with the country's criminal proceedings, do not suffer any discrimination or disadvantages.
"Police should make sure they meet the basic needs of foreign nationals during their investigation, such as by providing interpretation services or allowing a legal guardian to accompany them, even if the person in question does speak Korean," the commission said in a press release. "Police stations must be equipped with translated versions of necessary information on criminal procedures such as the Miranda warning.
The recommendation was based on a petition filed by the wife of a Moroccan man who was accused of assault after a fight with a Korean man earlier in March.
The petitioner claimed her husband went through the police investigation without any interpretation services during which he was forced to sign several documents he did not understand.
The Moroccan, a worker with a moving company, was loading boxes onto a ladder truck in Seoul, at around 8:20 a.m., March 31, when a passerby called him an "illegal immigrant" and tried to take photos of him, threatening to file a police report.
The two engaged in a heated argument involving physical conflict, and both made reports to police. The officers who arrived at the site ordered the Korean man to come in for questioning later, while apprehending the Moroccan man.
Police investigated the suspect without an interpreter, assuming it was unnecessary as "he has been living in the country for eight years with a Korean wife," according to the commission.
The case was referred to prosecutors on April 2, but he was not indicted.
The NHRCK called this an "unreasonable measure and abuse of public power" as it violated his rights and personal freedom.
The commission added that although the man was able to communicate in Korean, he did not fully understand legal terms and was not capable of adequately expressing his thoughts, judging by CCTV footage showing his repeated use of body language during conversations with police.
The national human rights agency has urged the law enforcement authorities to provide better interpretation services for non-Koreans during legal procedures even if they can speak some Korean, after a case in which a Moroccan man went through a police investigation here without an interpreter.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) made the recommendation on Monday to the National Police Agency to ensure that foreign nationals, who are unfamiliar with the country's criminal proceedings, do not suffer any discrimination or disadvantages.
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| The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) building. / Korea Times file |
The recommendation was based on a petition filed by the wife of a Moroccan man who was accused of assault after a fight with a Korean man earlier in March.
The petitioner claimed her husband went through the police investigation without any interpretation services during which he was forced to sign several documents he did not understand.
The Moroccan, a worker with a moving company, was loading boxes onto a ladder truck in Seoul, at around 8:20 a.m., March 31, when a passerby called him an "illegal immigrant" and tried to take photos of him, threatening to file a police report.
The two engaged in a heated argument involving physical conflict, and both made reports to police. The officers who arrived at the site ordered the Korean man to come in for questioning later, while apprehending the Moroccan man.
Police investigated the suspect without an interpreter, assuming it was unnecessary as "he has been living in the country for eight years with a Korean wife," according to the commission.
The case was referred to prosecutors on April 2, but he was not indicted.
The NHRCK called this an "unreasonable measure and abuse of public power" as it violated his rights and personal freedom.
The commission added that although the man was able to communicate in Korean, he did not fully understand legal terms and was not capable of adequately expressing his thoughts, judging by CCTV footage showing his repeated use of body language during conversations with police.
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