Jeju officer seeks review of arrest over falsified missing person cases
The police officer accused of falsely closing two missing person cases in Jeju sought a court review of the arrest as police pursue a detention warrant.
The police officer accused of falsely closing missing-person cases is escorted from Jeju Dongbu Police Station to attend an arrest review hearing on Aug. 24.YONHAP
The police officer arrested on allegations of falsely closing missing person cases on Jeju Island has asked a court to review whether the arrest was lawful.
The hearing to review the legality of the arrest took place at the Jeju District Court at 11 a.m. on Monday. The hearing follows the officer's emergency arrest on Saturday over allegations that they falsely closed the missing person case of Jang Mi-ran and another involving a man in his 60s.
The procedure allows a suspect who believes an arrest by an investigative agency was improper to ask a court to consider their release. The court examines whether the arrest was lawful and whether continued detention is necessary before reaching a decision within 24 hours.
A decision on whether to release the police officer could come as early as late Monday.
Amid the review, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Police Agency said Monday it sought a detention warrant for the officer on charges of dereliction of duty, fabrication and use of false electronic official records and obstruction of the performance of official duties by fraudulent means.
Police said they sought the warrant because of concerns that the officer could destroy evidence or flee.
The officer, who had been held at the detention center of Jeju Dongbu Police Station, boarded a transport vehicle at around 10 a.m. to attend the hearing.
The officer kept his head down and gave no response as reporters asked, "Do you admit to the allegations?" "Why did you request a review of your arrest?" and "Do you have anything to say to the bereaved family?"
Police search the Hallim Port area of Hallim-eup in Jeju City on Aug. 24 for Jang Mi-ran, who went missing in May.YONHAP
The officer, from the Jeju Seobu Police Station, is accused of falsely closing the missing persons case of Jang Mi-ran. The 37-year-old was reported missing in May, and the officer allegedly closed the case after falsely telling the person who filed the report that Jang had been contacted. The officer is accused of deleting information related to Jang from the missing persons profiling system.
The officer is also suspected of falsely closing another missing persons case of a man in his 60s on July 2 in a similar manner.
On the day the missing person report was filed, the officer reportedly told the missing person's family that the person was safe but that it would be difficult to disclose their whereabouts because the missing person did not want the family to know. The officer also allegedly removed the case from the missing persons profiling system. The person was found dead on Jeju on Saturday.
The body believed to be that of Jang was found on Monday in the Hallim-eup area of Jeju City. Police will conduct forensic testing to confirm the identity and determine the cause of death.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
