Jisoo Han

Jisoo Han (born c. October 1983) is a South Korean underwater diving instructor who was held in Honduras.

She was jailed for 110 days and was placed under house arrest for 306 days in connection with the death of Dutch Tourist Mariska Mast at the Honduran island of Roatán.

Han proclaimed her innocence and appealed to roommate Daniel Ian Ross, a suspect in the case who fled to Australia, to come forward and exonerate her.

Han's uncle Sung-ho Choi filed petitions for her release with Amnesty International.

The case was brought to the attention of South Korean president Lee Myung-bak and Honduran president Porfirio Lobo Sosa.

Han came to Roatán on June 10, 2008, to learn to become a scuba diving instructor.

She assisted instructor Daniel Ian Ross, then 29 years old, in the course of her PADI Divemaster training at Coconut Tree Divers.

She moved into Ross' apartment in the West End district on August 15 to save money by sharing the rent.

Ross, a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Australia, allegedly arrived in March of that year and may have been working illegally in Roatán at that time.

"What beautiful nature. I enjoyed every minute of my time in Honduras. I thought it might even be a good place to live."

On August 21, 2008, 23-year-old Mariska Esmeralda Mast, a schoolteacher from the Netherlands, took a diving course at Coconut Tree Divers with Ross and other instructors.

Han said she was preparing for her instructor exam outside of the dive shop at that time.

Mast's travel companion Barbara Mehsner stated that Mast complained of having breathing problems after their last dive.

According to Han, she met Mast for the first time that evening at the Purple Turtle bar, while accompanied by Ross and other guests.

Mehsner said Mast drank with Ross that night and was infatuated with him; Mast told Mehsner that Ross had kissed her.

Han stated that she went home alone at around 11:30 p.m. to go to sleep.

Ross and Mast arrived at the apartment minutes later.

In Ross' statement to police, Mast collapsed in the bathroom at around 3 a.m., hitting her head and chipping her tooth.

Han said she brought some ice to tend to a cut above Masts' eye and returned to bed after Ross said he could handle the situation.

Han allegedly woke up at around 6 a.m. when Ross yelled her name because Mast was having trouble breathing.

Han said Mast was naked in Ross' bed and had defecated on herself.

Han alerted neighbors to call for an ambulance.

Ross said that he attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation when Mast stopped breathing.

Han joined Ross to take Mast to the hospital in the back of the landlady's truck.

Ross alleged that he was unable to converse in Spanish with the doctors, who sent him away.

Mehsner said she was told that Mast hit her head when she fell in the apartment.

Ross stated that he returned to the apartment where he "cleaned up the mess" with the housekeeper and claimed to be unaware that he was removing vital evidence because Mast had been pronounced dead.

According to the police, the landlady witnessed Ross cleaning up the scene before they could arrive.

Han said that a neighbor's wife had cleaned the apartment, which was sealed as a crime scene.

A police officer who inspected the apartment found "six packets of pills and a blood stain."

Ross was arrested and held for five days at a Coxen Hole jail, where he was visited by British consul Mat Harper.

Ross told the court that he did not want Mast to come to his apartment on the night she died.

British officials in Honduras stated that Mast's initial autopsy was "inconclusive" and were uncertain whether Ross would be charged.

Han was summoned to the court to make a statement and answer questions as a witness.

Ross was conditionally released after surrendering his British passport and was instructed not to leave the island by the Honduran authorities, who were then unaware of his dual citizenship.

Ross used his Australian passport to leave the country the next day, while a memorial was being held for Mast.

Han said she had not seen Ross since.

Dutch diplomats and private investigators visited Roatán and pressured Honduran investigators to revisit the case.

A new forensic report stated that Mast died of blunt force injuries and asphyxiation with evidence of strangulation.

On October 16, 2010, Han was acquitted of the murder and remains in Honduras pending the outcome of an appeal by the prosecution.