"Got the Murderer, Come Quickly"…False Report to 112 at 3 AM, What Punishment?

Police Refer False 112 Callers to Summary Trial
Fines Up to 600,000 Won or Detention Possible

A man who falsely reported to the police at midnight that he had caught a murderer was brought to summary trial.

On the 15th, the official YouTube channel of the National Police Agency released a video titled "I am catching a murderer. Hurry up and come."

According to the released video, at 3 a.m. on the 22nd of last month in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon, a man called the police station. The man urged the police, saying, "I caught the murderer, so hurry up and come." In response, the police asked, "Are you holding the murderer?" and emphasized, "You can be punished for making a false report."

[Image source=Official YouTube of the National Police Agency]

When the police arrived at the scene, the man, estimated to be in his 40s, claimed that his friend had been murdered. He pointed at someone and said, "(That person) killed him at a motel, over there." When the police asked, "How did that person kill him?" he replied, "He drugged him."

However, as the police repeatedly questioned him, the man began to give inconsistent answers and ramble. When the police said, "We came because you reported that you caught the murderer," the man pointed at someone nearby and said, "This person is the culprit."

When the police asked, "Then why didn't you report it until now?" the man gave a ridiculous answer, "I couldn't. Because I didn't know where he died." Hearing this, the police said, "You haven't even seen the (crime scene)." Then the reporter confessed to the false report, saying, "No, I just had a feeling...".

The police informed the man, "We will file for summary trial for false reporting, so either request a formal trial at the court or speak before the judge." According to the police investigation, this man had a total of 36 prior punishments, including fare evasion, drunk disturbance, and others.

Meanwhile, making a false report to the police or fire department can result in a fine of up to 600,000 won, detention, or a fine under the Minor Offenses Act. In cases where large-scale administrative resources are mobilized and the false report is serious, the crime of obstruction of official duties by deception under the Criminal Act applies, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 10 million won.

According to the police, out of 21,565 false reports over the past five years, 19,055 cases (about 88%) were subject to criminal punishment or summary trial.

The police stated, "Although we are focusing on strengthening patrols and public safety due to recent successive heinous crimes, police resources are being wasted on false reports at the front lines," and pledged to respond strictly to false reports.

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