Jang Mi-ran (37), a long-term missing person in Jeju, is presumed to have died in the early hours of the day after she left her accommodation on May 12.

During a background briefing with reporters today (the 26th), the Jeju Provincial Police Agency stated, "After Jang left her long-term accommodation at around 10:15 p.m. on May 12, there were no changes in her cell phone location data or additional call records until her phone was powered off."

Police said, "Based on these facts, we consider it highly likely that Jang died in the early hours between the 12th and the 13th."

Regarding the possibility of foul play, police maintained their previous stance, explaining, "Given the posture and location of the body when found and the verbal opinion of the forensic pathologist, we view the possibility of criminal involvement as low."

Police added, "The forensic pathologist provided a verbal opinion estimating that she died by hanging," and noted, "Furthermore, crime scene investigation results showed a string belonging to Jang was found on a protruding branch at the top of a palm tree."

However, police added that they are investigating all possibilities, including conducting a forensic examination of her cell phone.

Police Officer A, who handled the missing person report for Jang, faces charges of falsely closing the case on her own after lying to the person who filed the report by saying, "We got in touch with Jang, but she asked not to disclose her location," despite Jang having been reported missing in May.

Officer A is also accused of deleting Jang's data from the management list of the missing person profiling system.

Officer A is additionally suspected of falsely closing a missing person case involving a man in his 60s, surnamed B, which was filed on July 2 last year using a similar method to Jang's case.

While searching for Jang, police became aware of Officer A's alleged misconduct, conducted a pre-booking investigation on the 11th, and formally booked Officer A on the 14th of the same month.

Police discovered the body of Mr. B at an undisclosed location in Jeju on the morning of the 22nd.

Subsequently, on the morning of the 24th, police recovered a body presumed to be Jang in Hallim-eup, Jeju City.

The Jeju District Court issued an arrest warrant yesterday (the 25th) for Officer A, who faces charges including dereliction of duty, falsification and uttering of official electronic records, and obstruction of official duties by fraudulent means.

Officer A currently maintains the previous claim that "we contacted the missing person" and denies the charges of false case closure.

(Photo: Yonhap News)