Police officer accused of falsely closing missing persons cases faces detention warrant hearing
A Jeju court will decide whether to detain an officer accused of falsely closing two missing persons cases after his emergency arrest was ruled unlawful.
A police officer surnamed Bu, center, who was taken into emergency custody on suspicion of falsely closing the missing persons case involving Jang Mi-ran, who disappeared in May, leaves the Jeju District Court on Aug. 24 after a hearing to review the legality of the arrest.
NEWS1
A detention warrant hearing for a police officer accused of falsely closing missing persons cases will be held Tuesday, a day after a court ordered the officer's release over problems with the arrest process.
The officer, surnamed Bu, was placed under emergency arrest on Saturday, but was released on Monday following a court order citing it as unlawful.
The Jeju District Court will hold a hearing around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday to determine whether to issue a detention warrant for Bu on charges including dereliction of duty, falsifying and using falsified electronic public records and obstruction of official duties by fraudulent means.
A decision on whether to detain Bu is expected later Tuesday.
Police found that Bu, who allegedly falsely closed the missing persons case involving Jang Mi-ran, had also falsely closed another missing persons report.
Jang had been missing for more than three months after her boyfriend reported her disappearance on May 15. However, the officer allegedly told Jang’s boyfriend that the officer had contacted her, that she was safe and did not want to be found, the same day. He then closed the case. Investigators later found no record of any call between Bu and Jang.
Bu was taken into emergency custody at around 3:29 p.m. Saturday at an undisclosed location on Jeju Island, but filed a petition with the court Sunday seeking a review of the legality of the arrest. The Jeju District Court granted the petition Monday and ordered Bu's release after reviewing whether the arrest had been lawful.
Bu will attend Tuesday's detention warrant hearing while not in custody.
Police found the body of the person involved in the other missing persons case in Jeju on Saturday. On Monday morning, police also recovered a body believed to be Jang's in Hallim-eup, Jeju.
BY CHO MUN-GYU [[email protected]]
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.
