Former Police Chief Yongsan Presents The Court's Court Related To The Itaewon Tragedy, Accused Of Professional Implementation

The memorial at Seoul City Hall Plaza is for victims of the Halloween tragedy Itaewon. (Wikimedia Commons/Bonnielou2013)

JAKARTA - Former head of the Yongsan Police Station attended Friday's court hearing to determine whether he should be detained or not, for allegedly failing to immediately respond to the deadly mass buildup in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood during a Halloween celebration last October.

This is the second time prosecutors have requested an arrest warrant for Lee Im-jae, former head of the Yongsan Police Station covering Itaewon District, after an earlier request was rejected earlier this month.

The court at that time stated the need to guarantee the suspect's right to defense.

"I apologize and once again apologize as head of the police station at the time," Lee told reporters upon arrival at Seoul's West District Court.

The decision whether to approve his detention is expected to be made on Friday night or Saturday morning.

Lee has been charged with professional negligence and murder for negligence resulting in the death of 158 people.

The former police chief was also accused of arriving late at the scene, about 50 minutes after the tragedy.

He was also accused of not taking sufficient mass control measures following previous warnings about excessive density during Halloween celebrations, police said.