DUI case of Chinese consul in Gwangju sent to prosecution

gettyimagesbank

By Jun Ji-hye

A drunk driving case of a Chinese language diplomat posted in Gwangju has been transferred to the prosecution because the police concluded his case was not topic to diplomatic immunity.

The Gwangju Seobu Police Station stated Monday the consul on the Chinese language Consulate Normal within the metropolis, who had been caught driving drunk, had claimed diplomatic immunity, which protects diplomats and their households in opposition to prosecution underneath the host nation’s legal guidelines.

However the police didn’t acknowledge the consul’s drunk driving as associated to official affairs, which is considered one of requisites for diplomatic immunity, and transferred the case to the prosecution the identical day to be dealt with as a violation of the Street Site visitors Act.

On June 20, the consul was discovered to have been driving his automobile whereas drunk for about 50 minutes from 1:30 a.m. on that day.

Police intercepted the consul in an underground car parking zone of an condo after a member of the general public reported the Chinese language nationwide to police for suspected drunk driving.

On the time, the consul’s blood alcohol content material was 0.119 %, which is excessive sufficient for the revocation of his driver’s license. The authorized restrict in Korea is 0.03 %.

After being arrested by police, the consul claimed diplomatic immunity by saying that his drunk driving was associated to official duties as he was on his manner again after assembly a Chinese language nationwide who had been hospitalized.

Police, nonetheless, concluded the consul’s drunk driving was not associated to his official affairs topic to diplomatic privilege after discussing the problem with the overseas affairs ministry, and despatched the case to the prosecution.

Regardless of the police’s conclusion, nonetheless, it’s unlikely that the consul will see any precise authorized repercussion.

Earlier in Could, the spouse of Belgian Ambassador to Korea Peter Lescouhier assaulted a clothes store worker however prevented authorized motion as she maintained her diplomatic immunity.