A police officer accused of falsely closing a missing-person report filed for a woman later found dead in Jeju has been sent to prosecutors in custody. The officer, identified only by his surname Boo, told investigators he had taken the case lightly because the missing person was an adult.
The Jeju Police Agency's anti-corruption and economic crime investigation unit said on the 1st that it had referred Boo, a senior police officer at Jeju West Police Station, to prosecutors in custody on charges of forging and using official electronic records, obstruction of official duties by deception and dereliction of duty. Police had arrested Boo without a warrant on the 22nd of last month, and a court issued an arrest warrant on the 25th, citing the risk that he would destroy evidence or flee.
Jang Mi-ran, 37, was found dead 104 days after she was reported missing in Jeju.
Boo said he had closed the report because the missing person was an ordinary adult, adding that he had faced a heavy workload if the case remained open and felt burdened by the prospect of handing it over, according to police.
A police profiling analysis concluded that Boo's main motive was negligence in his duties, driven by fatigue from an accumulated workload and mounting responsibilities. Police believe the false closure resulted from a combination of his avoidance of the case and an irresponsible attitude.
