Sergeant Bu (34) of Jeju Seobu Police Station, accused of falsely closing missing-person cases, said the officer "thought complacently because the missing person was an ordinary adult."
The Jeju Metropolitan Police Agency stated accordingly on the 1st that it sent Sergeant Bu, who is accused of dereliction of duty, falsifying and using official electronic records, and obstructing official duties by deception, to prosecutors under arrest.
According to the Jeju Metropolitan Police Agency, Sergeant Bu admitted all charges that after receiving a missing-person report for Jang, a person surnamed Jang, in May this year and a missing-person report for a man in his 60s, identified as A, in July, the officer fabricated the cases to appear as if contact had been made without actually speaking with the missing persons, and closed them. In the early stage of the investigation, the officer denied the crimes or refused to answer, but admitted the charges when presented with evidence.
Police said Sergeant Bu stated, "I falsely closed the cases due to the burden of handing them over, as there were many things to take care of if they were left open." Police also said that, according to a profiling analysis conducted during the inquiry, "amid fatigue from accumulated workload and increasing responsibility, a motive of work neglect was the main background."
A police official said, "It is presumed that the suspect's (Sergeant Bu's) avoidant response and irresponsible attitude combined to lead to the false closures."
A, whose missing-person report Sergeant Bu falsely closed, was found dead on Aug. 22 in Gujwa-eup, Jeju City, and Jang was found dead on Aug. 24 in Hallim-eup, Jeju City.
Police said that even after sending Sergeant Bu to prosecutors, they will continue a full review of 298 missing-person reports the officer terminated. A police official said, "We will work closely with prosecutors to ensure strict punishment commensurate with the crimes."