Rival parties on Thursday clashed over a recent police decision not to charge a former Marine division commander accused of responsibility in last year's death of a young soldier during a search operation for flood victims. On Monday, the police announced its decision to forward six military field commanders to the prosecution and excluded Lim Seong-geun, the commander of the Marine Corps 1st Division at the time of the accident, who is at the center of alleged interference in the military's initial inquiry into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun. Police had questioned eight suspects to investigate allegations that Marine conscripts were mobilized for the risky search mission without proper safety gear in the southeastern county of Yecheon last year, resulting in Chae's death. The police briefed the public administration and security committee during the plenary committee meeting at the National Assembly on its probe, which determined that Lim was not responsible for the operation. Lawmakers of the ruling Peo ple Power Party (PPP) argued that the probe was "fair and objective," while the main opposition Democratic Party criticized the police for defending Lim. "I have no intention of defending Lim whatsoever as he also has issues," PPP Rep. Bae June-young said. "(Lim) has a moral responsibility, but there is also a need to differentiate between moral responsibility and legal responsibility." PPP Rep. Kim Jong-yang also accused the DP of insulting the police and inciting conflict because the results of the investigation were not what it wanted. Meanwhile, DP lawmakers called for a special counsel probe into the case, saying the conclusion of the police investigation is "incomprehensible" to the public. Speaking at the meeting, Yoon Hee-keun, head of the National Police Agency, denied allegations the presidential office interfered in the probe, saying he "fully trusts" the judgment of the investigation team. Source: Yonhap News Agency
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