A woman who was reported missing in Jeju has been found dead three months later, revealing that the police officer in charge had falsely reported having contacted her. This has led to growing distrust in the police investigation.
On September 1, MBC's 'PD Notebook' will air an episode titled 'Independence of Investigative Authority D-31: Shaken Police, Conditions for Trust,' focusing on issues surrounding police investigations, including the arbitrary closure of missing person cases, investigation distortions, bribery incidents, and internal misconduct.
On August 24, the body of Jang Mi-ran, who was reported missing in May, was discovered in Jeju. At the time of the initial report, the police officer claimed to have contacted Jang, stating she did not want to disclose her whereabouts, leading to the case being closed about two and a half hours after the report was filed.
However, two months later, following a re-reporting by her family, it was revealed that the officer had never actually spoken to Jang. Subsequently, from August 22, four missing persons were found dead in Jeju over three days, prompting a comprehensive investigation into the missing person cases that the officer had arbitrarily closed.
'PD Notebook' will also revisit past cases where allegations arose that victims and perpetrators were misidentified during police investigations.
One such case involves Son Sol-bin, known as the suspect in the so-called 'Gwangju Dating Violence Case No. 1,' who was arrested in 2018 for allegedly confining and assaulting his girlfriend. According to 'PD Notebook,' Son claims he was the victim of ongoing verbal and physical abuse from his girlfriend and requested to review CCTV footage to prove his innocence, but this request was not accepted during the investigation.
The broadcast will report that the police documented an incident where Son pushed his girlfriend to avoid her assault, raising concerns about the investigation's integrity. Although the court later acquitted Son of the key charges against him, he had already spent about eight months in detention.
'PD Notebook' highlights that despite the National Human Rights Commission's investigation and internal police inquiries confirming issues in the investigation process, there has been no official apology from the involved officers, shedding light on the eight years of suffering Son has endured since the incident.
The program will also address cases where police investigation closure rights were exchanged for bribes.
Since the 2021 adjustment of investigative authority between prosecutors and police, the police's power to close cases has expanded. A police officer from the Uijeongbu Police Station was indicted for allegedly accepting bribes worth millions from a loan fraud broker in exchange for halting related investigations, receiving a six-year prison sentence and a fine of approximately 250 million won.
Documents obtained by 'PD Notebook' reveal that the officer demanded money from the broker, saying, 'Deposit the money. Invest in me with confidence.' The broadcast will trace how this officer suggested the broker change their registered address and took over related complaints filed nationwide before deciding to halt the investigation.
One victim, Cha Cheol-ho, stated that he had trusted the officer until 'PD Notebook' contacted him for an interview. He is still repaying a debt of about 62 million won.
Current investigators will also share claims that they faced personnel disadvantages and disciplinary actions for investigating internal police misconduct.
In one incident, a team of internal auditors monitoring police misconduct caused a disturbance at a convenience store late at night, prompting police to respond. After a detective and the investigation department head gathered evidence, including CCTV footage and victim statements, they were reassigned to patrol duties just two days after the incident was reported.
These individuals later received suspensions for violating investigation procedures and undermining internal cohesion. They argue that this was retaliatory action for their internal misconduct investigation. With nearly 30 years of investigative experience, they raise concerns about the police's self-regulatory capabilities and the need for an independent oversight system.
Experts point out that relying solely on internal police oversight makes it difficult to adequately check the expanded investigative powers. 'PD Notebook' will also discuss the need for external oversight mechanisms, citing examples like the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in the UK.
As discussions continue regarding the police's investigative authority and the systems to check it, just over a month before the implementation of a revised criminal procedure law that abolishes direct investigations by prosecutors, 'PD Notebook' will explore the conditions necessary to restore trust in investigative agencies. The episode airs today at 10:20 PM.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.