30s Repeatedly Leaving Self-Quarantine Without Permission, Arrest Warrant Denied: "No Flight Risk" (Update)

Seoul Eastern District Court [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] A detention warrant for a woman in her 30s who repeatedly violated self-quarantine rules was dismissed by the court.

On the 24th, Judge Lee Geun-su, in charge of warrants at the Seoul Eastern District Court, held a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant substantive examination) for Ms. A, a woman in her 30s accused of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, and subsequently dismissed the detention warrant.

The judge explained the reason for dismissing the warrant, stating, "Ms. A has a fixed residence and has fully confessed to the criminal charges. The investigative authorities have secured sufficient objective evidence to prove the charges. Therefore, it is difficult to consider that the suspect might flee or destroy evidence."

According to the police and Seongdong District Office, Ms. A, who lives in Seongdong-gu, was required to self-quarantine related to COVID-19 until the afternoon of the 11th of this month. However, on the 9th and 10th, she left her phone at home and went to restaurants in Mapo-gu.

The police responded to a report from the district office around midnight on the 11th but could not track her location. It was reported that Ms. A voluntarily informed the health authorities of her self-quarantine violation on the morning of the 11th. She tested negative in the COVID-19 specimen test.

After summoning Ms. A for investigation, the police applied for a detention warrant on the 22nd, adhering to the principle of strict and zero-tolerance response to self-quarantine violations.

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