Jeju police vote to dismiss officer charged over falsely closed missing-person cases
In short
A disciplinary committee at Jeju Seobu Police Station voted on 8 October to dismiss an officer surnamed Bu (부), the heaviest disciplinary penalty, who is indicted in custody on charges of falsely closing missing-person cases. He is accused of closing reports on a woman in her 30s and a man in his 60s in May and July as if he had contacted them; both were found dead in August. His first trial opens at Jeju District Court on 14 October.
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A disciplinary committee at Jeju Seobu Police Station (제주서부경찰서) voted on 8 October to dismiss an officer surnamed Bu (부), who has been indicted in custody on charges of falsely closing missing-person cases. Dismissal (파면) is the heaviest disciplinary penalty for police officers, ranking above removal, demotion and suspension, the outlets reported. CBS NoCut News and Seoul Shinmun said the committee met in the morning. Several outlets gave the officer's age as 34; Yonhap, Maeil Business and Seoul Shinmun identified him only as "A". [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Because the officer is in detention, the committee decided after receiving his opinion in writing. The decision is not yet final: it takes effect once he is notified, and he can request a review (소청심사) if he contests it. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
He is accused of receiving missing-person reports on 15 May for a woman in her 30s surnamed Jang (장) and on 2 July for a man in his 60s surnamed Park (박), entering false information as if he had contacted them, closing the cases and taking no steps to find them. Yonhap, Maeil Business and Seoul Shinmun reported that the false entries were made in the 112 report handling system and a profiling system for missing children and others, and that he also gave superiors internal reports saying he had contacted the missing people. The cases came to light when relatives filed second and third reports. Jang was found dead 104 days after going missing and Park 52 days after, both in August. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
A police review of the 298 missing-person cases he handled on the missing-persons team from March last year to July this year found 25 more handled improperly. CBS NoCut News, Hankook Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun said these were 10 false closures and 15 closed on improper grounds. Dong-A Ilbo reported that police plan to send the 25 cases to prosecutors soon. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
The Jeju Prosecution Office (제주공소청) indicted him in custody on 18 September on charges including forging and using public electronic records, dereliction of duty, and making and using false official documents. Police had sent him to prosecutors in custody on 1 September. His first trial is set for the afternoon of 14 October at Jeju District Court. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Jang's family welcomed the vote but expressed "deep regret at the police's hasty and careless handling", Newsis reported. The family's legal representative said they had asked whether the result could be passed to the family but were told it was personal, non-public information, and that the family again learned of the dismissal only through news reports. Seoul Shinmun quoted the law firm as saying the family "continues to be ignored and marginalised", and reported that the family took part in the committee and gave its views. [ 4 , 6 , 8 ]
Why it matters
Two people whose missing-person reports were allegedly closed with false entries were later found dead, and a police review found 25 more improperly handled cases among the 298 the officer dealt with. The dismissal takes effect only once he is notified and can be appealed, while his criminal trial begins on 14 October.
Key facts
- Jeju Seobu Police Station's disciplinary committee voted on 8 October to dismiss the officer, the heaviest disciplinary penalty for police officers. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The officer, in detention, submitted his opinion to the committee in writing. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The dismissal takes effect once he is notified, and he can request a review (소청심사) if he contests it. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- He is accused of closing missing-person reports received on 15 May and 2 July with false entries saying he had contacted the missing people. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- The woman surnamed Jang was found dead 104 days after going missing and the man surnamed Park 52 days after. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- A police review of 298 cases he handled found 25 more handled improperly. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Prosecutors indicted him in custody on 18 September; his first trial is set for 14 October at Jeju District Court. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Jeju Seobu Police Station's disciplinary committee voted on 8 October to dismiss the officer. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Dismissal (파면) is the heaviest disciplinary penalty for police officers. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The decision takes effect when the officer is notified, and he can request a review if he contests it. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- He is accused of falsely closing missing-person reports on a woman in her 30s and a man in his 60s. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- The two missing people were found dead 104 and 52 days after going missing. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- A police review of the 298 missing-person cases he handled found 25 more improperly handled cases. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The Jeju Prosecution Office indicted him in custody on 18 September. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- His first trial is scheduled for 14 October at Jeju District Court. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Jang's family welcomed the dismissal vote but expressed regret at how police handled the matter. [ 4 , 6 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- Whether police will refer the 25 additional cases to prosecutors. Only Dong-A Ilbo reported that police plan to send them to prosecutors soon.
- How the police station responded to the family's request to be told the result. Newsis quoted the family's lawyer as saying the station would consider next week whether it could be disclosed; Seoul Shinmun quoted the law firm as saying the request was refused.
- Whether Jang's family took part in the disciplinary committee. Only Seoul Shinmun reported, citing unnamed accounts, that the family attended and presented its views.
- Whether the officer will contest the dismissal. The documents say only that he can request a review; none reports his intention.
- The exact charges in the indictment. Outlets list forging and using public electronic records, dereliction of duty and making and using false official documents; only CBS NoCut News also lists a violation of the law on electronic criminal justice procedures.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- 8 October: CBS NoCut News reports that the Jeju Seobu Police Station disciplinary committee voted that morning to dismiss the officer. [ 1 ]
- 8 October: Newsis reports the dismissal vote. [ 2 ]
- 8 October: Newsis updates its report with the Jang family's statement welcoming the vote and criticising the police. [ 4 ]
- 8 October: Yonhap reports the dismissal and that the first trial is set for 14 October. [ 5 ]