'Drunken Vehicle Theft' by 'Makjang Police Officer' Results in Fine

A police officer who was dismissed after stealing and driving a vehicle while intoxicated was sentenced to a fine.

On the 19th, Judge Kim Hyo-jin of the Criminal Division 5 at Gwangju District Court sentenced former police officer A (54), who was charged with theft, to a fine of 5 million won.

A was prosecuted for stealing a sport utility vehicle belonging to another bar customer and driving it about 847 meters on a road in Yongbong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, around 10:30 p.m. on April 21, while serving as a police lieutenant at the district police station under the jurisdiction of Gwangju Bukbu Police Station.

It was investigated that A entered the sport utility vehicle, which was unlocked, in a state of heavy intoxication and drove it using the key inside.

A reportedly claimed, "I was so drunk that I don't remember," and was dismissed in July due to this incident.

The presiding judge recognized the intent of theft, citing differences between A's personal vehicle and the stolen vehicle's model.

The judge stated, "A, as an active police officer, drank alcohol and stole a vehicle, so the culpability is not light. However, considering that he served diligently as a police officer for over 30 years, is a first-time offender, and that a petition for leniency was submitted, the sentence was determined accordingly."

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