"Nine Arrested for April Fools' False Reports of 'Strangling Wife to Death'"

Individuals who made false reports to the police on April Fools' Day were consecutively apprehended.

The National Police Agency announced on the 2nd that out of 28,620 112 calls received from midnight to 4 p.m. on the 1st, 9 false reports were subject to penalties under the Minor Offenses Act for false reporting (7 cases) and obstruction of official duties by deception under the Criminal Act (2 cases).

By metropolitan and provincial police agencies, the cases were distributed as follows: Seoul Police Agency 2 cases, Busan Police Agency 2 cases, Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency 2 cases, Gyeonggi Bukbu Police Agency 1 case, Chungnam Police Agency 1 case, and Jeonbuk Police Agency 1 case.

On the morning of that day, a man in his 50s, Mr. A, intoxicated in a commercial building in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, falsely reported to 119 that he had been beaten by a police officer. The police arrested Mr. A and applied charges for obstruction of official duties by deception.

In Dangjin-si, Chungnam Province, a man in his 50s, also intoxicated, made 51 false reports from 7:14 a.m. to 12:52 p.m., claiming things such as "There is prostitution at the coffee shop. Do you know who I am? I am a recruit training camp instructor of the Republic of Korea Army." He was apprehended, and the police requested a summary trial for him.

Additionally, around 9:33 a.m. in Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, a false reporter was arrested after calling 112 and saying, "I just strangled my wife to death. The funeral is already over," which dispatched 7 police officers and 7 firefighters.

The police had previously stated that they would respond strictly to false reports that waste police resources. The number of penalties for false reports has been increasing annually, with 3,757 cases in 2021, 3,946 cases in 2022, and 4,871 cases in 2023.

Making a false report to 112 can result in a fine of up to 600,000 KRW, detention, or a penalty under the Minor Offenses Act, as well as punishment for obstruction of official duties by deception under the Criminal Act. When false reports cause significant waste of police resources and mental harm to responding officers, civil damages may also be claimed.

Starting July 3, the Act on the Operation and Handling of 112 Reports will be enforced, allowing for the imposition of fines on those who make false reports to 112.