Prosecutors Friday indicted five police officers accused of torturing criminal suspects in order to force confessions, a case that sparked public outrage over the abuse of power used
by police in violation of suspects' human rights.
The five officers, all belonging to Yangcheon Police Station in western Seoul, were arrested last month on charges of beating and torturing at least 22 suspects, mostly charged with theft and narcotic use, between last August and March of this year, according to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office.
Acting on the petition by the torture victims, the National Human Rights Commission took the case to the prosecution last month after its probe found evidences that the detectives used force while interrogating them.
The petitioners claimed that they were forced to admit their crimes with their arms handcuffed behind backs and twisted by detectives while being
questioned at the police station.
Facing criticism over the police officers' use of force against criminal suspects, the National Police Agency earlier this week announced a plan to require police stations to videotape the entire interrogation of suspects in major crimes to prevent such incidents in the future.