Police officer under arrest for prematurely closing missing person cases in Jeju

Jeju police officer arrested for premature closure of missing person case

A police officer on Jeju Island has been placed under emergency arrest for allegedly closing two missing person cases without proper investigation, according to police officials. The officer's actions have raised serious concerns about the integrity of the police force and the protection of citizens' safety.

The officer in question reportedly closed the case involving 37-year-old Jang Mi-ran in July 2021, more than three months after she was reported missing by her family. Jang has not been found to this day. In the second instance, the officer closed a different missing person case prematurely, only for the body of the missing person to be discovered later.

According to the Jeju Provincial Police Agency, the officer is suspected of dereliction of duty, falsifying electronic records, and obstructing official duties through deceptive means. The emergency arrest was made without a warrant after the officer's actions were discovered during an investigation into the first missing person case.

The officer maintains that he closed Jang's case after reporting to supervisors that he had spoken with her. However, a recent investigation found no evidence of a call between the two. The police and the Coast Guard have launched a full-scale search for Jang following the discovery of her body.

The case has sparked outrage among the public, who are calling for accountability and stricter regulations to prevent similar instances of misconduct by police officers.