A 23-year-old female air force officer was found dead at her home on May 22th. After reporting on the case of sexual assault from a coworker, she was pressured and blackmailed not to formally open up the case, and as a result she decided to take her own life.
What happened?
- On March 2nd, the victim was sexually assaulted by her coworker in a car on their way back to the base after a staff dinner. The victim immediately notified her superiors and military police of the incident.
- However, her superiors constantly coerced her into covering up the case. They even called her fiancé, who also works for the air force, and asked him to persuade the victim to reach a compromise with the perpetrator.
- After taking two months off, the victim applied for and was granted a transfer. But, according to the bereaved, she was treated as a troublemaker and had a hard time adjusting to work.
How badly the case was handled?
- The military police did not start investigating the perpetrator for 55 days after the incident, only after the victim committed suicide.
- The victim did not have access to talk with a lawyer hired by the airforce until 40 days after the incident.
After the case made headlines, the Air Force Chief stepped down holding himself responsible for the case. The air force and president belatedly promised a thorough probe.
