Prosecutors Continue Seizure Search for Third Day at Osong 'Underpass Disaster' Site

Search Warrant Specifies 'Allegation of Electronic Record Forgery'

The prosecution, investigating allegations of false reporting by the police related to the flooding accident at Cheongju Gungpyeong 2 Underpass, has been conducting a search and seizure of related agencies for the third consecutive day.

On the afternoon of the 25th, prosecution officials who conducted a search and seizure at the Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency are moving the seized items. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the legal community on the 26th, the prosecution has been carrying out search and seizure operations on the Chungbuk Police Agency and Heungdeok Police Station since the 24th on charges of professional negligence causing death or injury and forgery of electronic public records.

Article 227-2 of the Criminal Act (Forgery or Alteration of Electronic Public Records) stipulates that "any person who forges or alters electronic records or special media records of public officials or public offices with the intent to disrupt official duties shall be punished by imprisonment for up to 10 years."

The prosecution believes that on the day of the disaster, the Osong Police Substation patrol car did not actually respond to the accident site at Gungpyeong 2 Underpass, but the system was manipulated to show a "arrival and closure" status as if it had responded, which constitutes forgery of electronic documents. It is reported that the prosecution is verifying whether the police intentionally falsified documents or records.

Earlier, the Office for Government Policy Coordination requested an investigation by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 21st, stating that the police committed serious errors during the handling of the 112 emergency call incident, and referred six officers, including those from Osong Police Substation, for investigation. The prosecution has formed an investigation headquarters led by Chief Prosecutor Bae Yong-won of the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office and launched a large-scale investigation.

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