Debate is growing over whether it was appropriate for police to refer two people in their 30s with severe developmental disabilities to prosecutors on special theft charges after they ate one 1,500-won ice cream together at a convenience store without paying.
According to the Busanjin Police Station on the 14th, two people with developmental disabilities, including a person surnamed A, are accused of sharing one ice cream without paying for it at a convenience store in Busan on the 10th of last month.
Guardians who learned of the incident belatedly visited the convenience store, apologized, and compensated 100,000 won. The store owner was also said to have expressed that punishment was not desired for them.
However, the Busanjin Police Station determined the two committed the act together and applied special theft charges, referring the case to prosecutors. Special theft applies when two or more people jointly steal another person's property.
Prosecutors who received the case issued a suspension of indictment. It was reportedly decided after comprehensively considering that the offense was admitted, it was a first offense, a settlement was reached with the victim, and the victim did not want punishment.
Families of people with developmental disabilities are pushing back against the police investigation. The families were reportedly planning to file a complaint against the lead investigator on charges of abuse of authority.
Police said it was difficult under the law not to refer the case.
A police official said, "Because special theft carries only a prison sentence, it is not subject to minor offense review, so inevitably referring it to prosecutors to receive a suspension of indictment was the best option," adding, "We reflected all mitigating circumstances, including that the suspects are people with severe disabilities, in referring the case to prosecutors."