[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) rapidly spreads nationwide, the Ministry of Justice and prosecutors, who have established a strict response policy against related illegal activities, are actively taking action. The Jeongeup branch office has reported the first case of detention and prosecution for false reporting.
According to the prosecution on the 1st, as of 9 a.m. on the 28th of last month, there have been a total of 48 COVID-19 related cases investigated or prosecuted by the prosecution. Specifically, there are 3 prosecutions, 1 dismissal, 6 cases referred to the police, and 38 cases under investigation guidance to the police. By charge, there are ▲ 22 cases of mask payment fraud (fraud) ▲ 14 cases of spreading false information (obstruction of business, etc.) ▲ 8 cases of leaking data on confirmed patients or suspects (violation of the Personal Information Protection Act, etc.) ▲ 3 cases of false reporting of contact with confirmed patients and false statements or refusal of quarantine during epidemiological investigations (obstruction of official duties by deception, etc.) ▲ 1 case of hoarding health supplies (violation of the Price Stabilization Act), among others.
At the Jeongeup branch of the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office, a related person was detained and prosecuted for the first time. This prosecution office detained and prosecuted Mr. A on the 27th of last month on charges including obstruction of official duties by deception. Mr. A is accused of making a false report on the 6th of last month, claiming "I visited Wuhan, China, and suspect Wuhan pneumonia," causing public officials such as health center staff to be dispatched to the scene.
Earlier, the Sokcho branch of the Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office prosecuted Mr. B without detention on the 11th of last month for obstruction of business. Mr. B is accused of posting a false message in a KakaoTalk chatroom he operates on January 30th, stating "A suspected patient of the novel virus is hospitalized in a hospital in Sokcho."
The Daegu District Prosecutors' Office also prosecuted Mr. C without detention on the 21st of last month for obstruction of business. Mr. C was caught posting false information in a KakaoTalk group chat on the 7th of last month, stating, "Breaking news) Currently, a suspected Wuhan pneumonia patient who recently visited China is in the emergency room of a hospital in Daegu, undergoing tests, and the emergency room is scheduled to be closed. Residents of Gyeongsang, please monitor your families."
The Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office dismissed the case after investigating Mr. D. Mr. D received information about a COVID-19 confirmed patient from an acquaintance and passed it on to others, but the prosecution judged that it was difficult to apply the Personal Information Protection Act to a person who simply relayed the information in the middle due to the requirements.
Recently, a Chinese national was detained after it was revealed that he deceived four Chinese buyers on his social networking service (SNS) by claiming to have hundreds of thousands of masks and embezzled 170 million won (fraud). In this regard, Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae instructed the prosecution to cooperate closely with the Customs Service, National Tax Service, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to make detention investigations a principle for acts disrupting the distribution of health supplies such as masks and raw materials.
Since the 21st of last month, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office has formed a "COVID-19 Response Task Force (TF)" led by Planning and Coordination Department Head Lee Jeong-su. Local prosecution offices such as the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office have also formed individual response teams to monitor for illegal activities related to the COVID-19 situation.
The investigation trend regarding Shincheonji Church of Jesus (Shincheonji) is particularly noteworthy. The National Shincheonji Victims Solidarity (Jeonpiyeon) filed a complaint against Shincheonji leader Lee Man-hee (89), the general assembly chairman, on the 27th of last month, which is under investigation by the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office. Daegu City is also planning to file a complaint against the person in charge of the Shincheonji Daegu Church for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, with a series of complaints and accusations continuing.
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