Forensic Investigator Fined for Stealing 112.5g Gold Necklace from Deceased at Death Scene

Hid the Necklace Worn by the Deceased in His Sneaker

Court: "Considered the Return of the Stolen Item to the Bereaved Family"

A forensic investigator who stole a 112.5-gram gold necklace that a deceased person was wearing at a death scene has been sentenced to a fine.

On April 27, the Criminal Division 9 Single Judge of Incheon District Court (Judge Kim Giho) sentenced Mr. A (34), a forensic investigator affiliated with the Scientific Investigation Unit of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, to a fine of 10 million won on charges of theft, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Mr. A was brought to trial on charges of stealing a 112.5-gram gold necklace (valued at approximately 20 million won) that a man in his 50s, Mr. B, was wearing when he was found dead in a villa in Namdong-gu, Incheon, at around 3:15 p.m. on August 20 last year. It was reported that while police officers dispatched to the scene were taking statements from the informant outside the house, Mr. A removed the necklace from Mr. B’s body and hid it in his own sneaker.

Incheon District Court Exterior

In a photo of the deceased taken by a detective from Namdong Police Station, who was the first to arrive at the scene, the gold necklace was visibly present. Subsequent photos taken by the Scientific Investigation Unit of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency showed that the necklace was missing, raising suspicions of an insider’s involvement. The police investigated a total of five people, including two detectives who responded to the scene, staff from the Scientific Investigation Unit, and the forensic investigator. During the investigation, Mr. A eventually expressed his intention to confess, and based on his statement, the police searched his home and confiscated the hidden gold necklace.

During the police investigation, Mr. A stated, "I suddenly felt greedy while checking the body." Forensic investigators are health or medical technology civil servants assigned to the Scientific Investigation or Criminal Affairs Departments of provincial or metropolitan police agencies. Most are former nurses or clinical laboratory technicians, and they assist investigations by examining the exterior of the deceased at the scene to determine the cause of death and any possible criminal activity.

The court remarked, "The defendant, as a national civil servant performing forensic work at death scenes, is held to a high standard of professional ethics, yet stole the belongings of the deceased, which is highly blameworthy." Regarding the sentencing, the court explained, "However, if a sentence greater than imprisonment is finalized, it would result in mandatory dismissal, which seems somewhat harsh for the defendant," adding, "Consideration was also given to the fact that the stolen item was returned to the bereaved family and an amicable settlement was reached."

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