Prosecutors indict Jeju police officer over mishandling of missing person cases
JEJU — Prosecutors on Friday indicted a police officer on charges of fraudulently closing missing person cases on the southern resort island of Jeju earlier this year. The 34-year-old, who was placed under arrest last month, is accused of closing a case of a woman in her 30s, surnamed Jang, after fraudulently reporting that he had come into contact with her, shortly after she was reported missing…
Jeju prosecutors have indicted a 34-year-old police officer on Friday for fraudulently closing two missing person cases on the southern resort island earlier this year. The officer, placed under arrest last month, is accused of closing a case involving a woman in her thirties, surnamed Jang, after falsely claiming to have made contact with her after she was reported missing on May 15. He faces similar charges in connection with a 60-something man, surnamed Park, who was reported missing on July 2.
According to the Jeju District Prosecutors Office, the officer did not attempt to locate either of the two missing persons. Prosecutors suspect the officer closed the cases to prevent the need to report to higher authorities or handle the paperwork involved in transferring the cases to others. The bodies of both Jang and Park were discovered on the island last month, just days after concerns about foul play emerged and extensive search operations began.
The cases have sparked significant public concern regarding police practices on Jeju.
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