'Fake COVID-19 Symptoms' 20s Male Arrested for Assaulting Police Officer

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jung] A man in his 20s who was released after pretending to be ill by saying "I think I have contracted the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia)" after being arrested by the police was detained for assaulting a police officer.

On the 8th, Chief Judge Yuchang Hoon of the Seoul Western District Court, who is in charge of warrants, issued an arrest warrant for Jeong, a man in his 20s, on charges of obstruction of official duties, assault, and obstruction of business.

Jeong got into a fight with another man around 2 a.m. the previous day at a club in Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, which escalated and caused a disturbance outside the club. Jeong was arrested on charges of obstruction of official duties after assaulting the police officers who arrived at the scene by kicking them.

Jeong had also been arrested on the 2nd for assaulting an employee and shouting, thereby disrupting business at a restaurant in Seogyo-dong. After being transferred to a nearby police substation, Jeong reportedly caused a disturbance by cursing and shouting. He then coughed and said, "I think I have contracted the novel coronavirus. Please call someone." Subsequently, the 119 emergency medical team arrived at the substation and measured Jeong’s temperature to check for infection, but no abnormal signs were found. He had no contact with confirmed patients.

The Mapo Police Station in Seoul initially booked Jeong without detention and released him, but after he was arrested again for assaulting a police officer four days later, they applied for an arrest warrant.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.