"No Malice Intended"... Former Police Officer Admits to Falsely Closing Missing Persons Cases

A former police officer on trial for falsely closing missing persons reports has admitted to the charges.

Judge Kim Hee-jin of Criminal Single Division 3 at the Jeju District Court held the first trial today (October 28) for the former police officer, referred to as A, who was indicted and detained on charges including the falsification of official electronic records.

While working in the missing persons investigation team at the Jeju Western Police Station, A received missing persons reports regarding a person in their 30s surnamed Chang on May 15 and a person in their 60s surnamed Park on July 2. Despite receiving the reports, A is accused of closing the cases by falsely entering information into the 112 report processing system and the missing children profiling system as if they had contacted the missing individuals, failing to take measures to locate them.

A is also accused of entering and presenting false information in internal reports submitted to superiors, thereby preventing initial responses or tracking investigations from being carried out.

Investigations showed that even though A could not reach the two missing individuals, A falsely entered into the 112 report processing system that contact had been made with the missing person but they requested that the informant not be notified. Furthermore, A closed the cases in the profiling system by entering reasons for immediate deletion—stating that Chang died in a traffic accident and that Park's whereabouts were discovered, respectively.

Previously, the Jeju District Prosecutors' Office filed two applications to amend the indictment, specifying the period of dereliction of duty from the time the missing persons reports were falsely cleared until each missing person was found, and adding a charge of interference with public duties by fraudulent means. The court accepted these requests today.

A admitted to all the charges.

Through a written opinion, A's defense counsel stated that the defendant admits to and reflects on all the crimes, explaining that the actions stemmed from a sense of burden due to excessive workload. The counsel added that there was no malicious intent, but the offenses were committed out of complacency.

The counsel further requested leniency, taking into consideration that while it was the defendant's fault, there were structural deficiencies in police work procedures; A had worked diligently, receiving numerous commendations, and is a first-time offender; A has already faced social penalties through dismissal; and considering equity with similar cases.

It was also confirmed that A submitted a letter of remorse, stating, "I am sorry to the victims and their bereaved families," and expressing regret to parents and wife, saying that the dismissal has prevented A from pursuing the dream of being a police officer held since high school.

Today, the prosecution stated that in addition to the already indicted charges, additional crimes by A currently under police investigation are scheduled to be forwarded later this week.

The Jeju Provincial Police Agency is investigating 25 other inappropriate cases—such as false closures or deletion from the missing person profiling management list—uncovered through a comprehensive inspection of cases closed by A during their tenure on the missing persons team.

The next trial is scheduled for November 27.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.