Additional crimes have been uncovered involving a former police officer who was indicted and detained on charges of falsely closing missing persons reports in Jeju.
The Jeju Provincial Police Agency announced that an investigation into the additional offenses of 34-year-old former police officer A revealed that 10 missing persons reports were falsely closed, claiming their whereabouts had been confirmed without actually verifying the individuals.
It was also found that 15 records listed in the police missing persons profiling system management list were deleted without authorization under reasons such as death.
While none of the 25 individuals in these cases were deceased, the list reportedly included minors and the elderly.
These additional cases are separate from the previously revealed two false closure cases, which involved a woman in her 30s and another individual.
Previously, A was indicted and detained on charges of entering false information to close cases despite receiving missing persons reports in May and July, and has since been dismissed from the police force.
Police have been conducting a comprehensive investigation into 298 cases that A self-processed and closed while working on the missing persons team at the Jeju Seobu Police Station from March of last year to July of this year.
Police have additionally referred A to the Jeju District Prosecutors' Office on charges including the fabrication and uttering of official electronic records, and the creation of false official documents.
During the first trial held on October 28, A's legal representative admitted to the charges and appealed for leniency, claiming, "I felt burdened by an excessive workload," and adding, "There was no malicious intent, and the crimes were committed out of complacency."
Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Kim Na-on | Graphics by Lee Su-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
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