Spitting at Police and Lying "I Have COVID-19"... Arrested for Obstruction of Official Duties

On the 20th, individuals who lied about being infected with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after being arrested by the police on charges including assault were brought to trial.

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Shin-won] Individuals who lied about being infected with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after being arrested on charges including assault have been brought to trial.

On the 20th, the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office formally charged A (56) and B (25) with obstruction of official duties by deception and other offenses, detaining them.

A assaulted a taxi driver inside a taxi in operation on the 6th and also assaulted two police officers who responded to the report, leading to his detention at the police station. While in the detention center, A spat in a police officer's face and falsely claimed, "I have COVID-19," before being released.

A tested negative for COVID-19. However, due to his false claim, the police station's detention center and criminal investigation office were temporarily closed, and nine police officers were quarantined.

Additionally, B assaulted two people on the 25th of last month and also struck responding police officers. When arrested in flagrante delicto, B falsely claimed in the police suspect waiting room that he had "suspected COVID-19 symptoms," thereby obstructing official duties.

B was also released to undergo COVID-19 testing and received a negative result. The police station where A stayed and was investigated was closed, and eleven police officers and three firefighters were quarantined for a period.

A prosecution official stated, "The suspects lied about being infected with or having suspected symptoms of COVID-19, obstructing the duties of police officers and others," adding, "We took strict measures as this caused a security vacuum."

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