What evidence was destroyed after the 2022 Itaewon Halloween disaster?

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Two former police officers were sentenced for ordering the destruction of internal police reports that identified safety concerns prior to the 2022 Itaewon Halloween disaster.

Two former senior police officers have been sentenced to prison for their roles in destroying evidence related to the 2022 Itaewon Halloween crowd crush. The destruction involved the deletion of four internal police reports that had previously flagged potential safety issues and overcrowding in the popular Itaewon district. These convictions mark the first time police officials have been held accountable for their actions in the aftermath of the disaster.
Deletion of Pre-Disaster Safety Reports

The evidence destroyed consisted of four internal police reports. These reports had been compiled prior to the October 29, 2022, event and specifically highlighted concerns regarding the potential for overcrowding and associated safety risks in the Itaewon area. The Seoul Western District Court found that these documents were deliberately removed after the tragedy.
Sentencing of Former Police Officials

Park Sung-min, formerly a senior intelligence officer at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, received a sentence of 1.5 years in prison. Kim Jin-ho, who served as an intelligence officer at the Yongsan Police Station, was sentenced to one year in prison, with the sentence suspended for three years. Both officers were found to have ordered the deletion of the internal safety reports.
Court's Reasoning for Conviction

The court stated that the defendants failed to actively cooperate with the investigation by preserving existing data. Instead, they chose to delete or arbitrarily destroy internal reports prepared before the accident, thereby destroying evidence. This action was deemed to have hindered the determination of the substantial truth and minimised the police's responsibility.

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What evidence was destroyed after the 2022 Itaewon Halloween disaster?

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