The Korea Herald

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Two baseball players undergo police questioning over sexual assault allegations

By Yonhap

Published : May 28, 2018 - 11:15

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INCHEON -- Two professional baseball players facing sexual assault allegations underwent police questioning on Monday, with one of them denying charges against him.

Cho Sang-woo, a reliever for the Nexen Heroes, and Park Dong-won, a catcher for the same Korea Baseball Organization team, appeared at Incheon Namdong Police Station in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, just before 10 a.m.

The two are accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a team hotel in Incheon last Wednesday, with the Heroes in town for a road series against the SK Wyverns.

Nexen Heroes` catcher Park Dong-won (left) and pitcher Cho Sang-woo appear at Incheon Namdong Police Station in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, for questioning over sexual assault allegations on May 28, 2018. (Yonhap) Nexen Heroes` catcher Park Dong-won (left) and pitcher Cho Sang-woo appear at Incheon Namdong Police Station in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, for questioning over sexual assault allegations on May 28, 2018. (Yonhap)

Park, who arrived first, refused to respond to reporters' questions, only saying, "I'll answer police's questions the best I can."

Cho reached the police station about five minutes later and denied there was any use of force or violence.

Asked if he had consensual relations with the alleged victim, Cho answered, "Yes."

The pitcher also apologized to baseball fans for the incident and said he'd answer his questions "thoroughly and truthfully" during the interrogation.

The KBO has suspended both players from all baseball-related activities and will determine a further course of action upon the completion of police investigation. The Heroes also took them off their active roster.

A friend of the alleged victim's called the police at 5:21 a.m. last Wednesday to accuse the two players of sexually assaulting her friend, who was intoxicated. According to police, the friend had known both players, while the alleged victim met the athletes for the first time last week. (Yonhap)