“Friend Floats Away in Stream” “Explosive Device in Subway,” Police Fight False Reports

Busan Police Agency, 98 Cases Until May This Year ... 214 Cases Last Year, 1 Arrested, Waste of Police Resources and Taxes

At 8:24 a.m. on the 7th, the police received a report of an explosive device planted at Busan Sasang Subway Station and are conducting an emergency search. [Image source=Busan Police Agency]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] "A friend is drifting away in the river!"

At around 9:30 PM on the 6th, a report was made to 112 from Eomgung-dong, Sasang-gu, Busan.

Two patrol cars, five police officers, and three fire trucks were dispatched, and a total of 12 people searched the area for 15 minutes, but nothing was found.

A man in his 40s, Mr. A, was investigated and found to have made the report while intoxicated.

The police arrested him on the spot for violating the Minor Offenses Act due to the false report, wasting valuable time and deployment costs.

On the morning of the 7th at 8:24 AM, there was also a commotion when the police urgently responded to a report of an explosive device at Sasang Subway Station in Busan.

About 20 officers, including the Sasang Police Station detective team, nearby district police, and the riot squad, were dispatched.

The police found the male reporter and took him to the police station for investigation. The report made by Mr. B, a person with a severe disability, was found to be false.

False reports are wasting police resources and public funds.

From January to May this year, a total of 98 false 112 reports were received by the Busan Police Agency.

Thirty-two false reporters were sent to prosecution without detention, and 59 were referred for summary judgment as minor offenders.

Last year, there were 214 cases, with one person detained, 65 sent to prosecution without detention, and over 141 referred for summary judgment.

False reports directly cause waste of police resources and pose the risk of preventing response to other emergencies.

The police plan to strongly punish false reporters for obstruction of official duties, but there is no way to compensate citizens for the costs wasted and the loss of police resources that should have been used promptly.