Jeju police chief apologises over mishandled missing person cases
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Investigators examine the scene at a palm tree farm in Jeju on Aug 24, where the presumed body of a missing woman, Jang Mi-ran, was found.
PHOTO: EPA
- Jeju Police Commissioner Ko Pyeong-gi apologised after two missing person cases were wrongly closed and the individuals were later found dead.
- A police officer falsely claimed to have contacted the missing people to close their cases, causing distress to the families.
- Jeju police will conduct a full investigation and review all missing person cases to uncover any other errors or misconduct.
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SEOUL – Jeju Police Commissioner Ko Pyeong-gi on Aug 27 issued a public apology after two people whose missing person cases were closed by a police officer on allegedly false grounds were later found dead.
“I bow my head in apology to the two deceased people who never made it back to their families, and to the bereaved families suffering grief beyond description,” Ko said in a statement at the Jeju Provincial Police Agency.
A Jeju police officer surnamed Bu is accused of closing the case of Jang Mi-ran, a 37-year-old woman who disappeared in May and was found dead on Aug 24, by falsely claiming that he had spoken to her.
Bu is accused of using the same method to close another case involving a man in his 60s, whose body was found on Aug 22.
“A police officer has a responsibility to protect the safety and lives of the people, yet he disregarded that duty and lied, leaving permanent scars on the families,” Ko said, also apologising to Jeju residents.
Ko pledged a thorough and transparent investigation into the cases.
He also said Jeju police will review all missing person cases handled on the island to determine whether there were other errors or instances of misconduct. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
