A man from Uzbekistan, sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a taxi driver in Changwon, South Korea, has been released after nearly 17 years following a court's decision to reopen his case. The court found that police had coerced his confession using false information and violated his right to an interpreter.
According to Yonhap News Agency, 37-year-old Akmal Sobirov was released from Changwon Prison at 6:35 p.m. on October 15, following the court's decision to initiate a retrial and suspend his sentence. He had been in custody since July 2009. Sobirov was emotional as he embraced his father, who was waiting for him at the prison gate.
Upon his release, Sobirov stated, "I have lived unjustly until now, but at the same time, I feel truly sorry for the victim's family, as it seems they have suffered greatly." He added, "I will speak the truth in the upcoming trial process." Reflecting on the moment he learned about the retrial, he said, "I could only cry. It doesn't feel real to be outside after such a long time." He expressed a desire to return to his hometown to be with his parents as soon as possible and thanked attorney Park Jun-young for his assistance in the retrial.
Sobirov was charged in 2009 with the murder and robbery of a taxi driver in his 50s in the Myeongseo-dong area of Changwon. He had come to South Korea as a student and was arrested in July of that year on charges of taxi robbery before being identified as a suspect in the earlier murder case. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with the Supreme Court confirming the sentence in 2010.
Although Sobirov's retrial has been approved, it does not automatically imply a verdict of not guilty. His guilt or innocence will be determined in the forthcoming retrial proceedings.
Following his release, Sobirov plans to visit the victim's family to express his condolences before preparing for the retrial.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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