As 'False Accusation' Controversies Continue... Dongtan Police Station Conducts Full Review of 18 Months of Sexual Crime Investigations

Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency Directly Responsible
Investigation into Appropriateness and Rationality of Procedures

The Dongtan Police Station in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, which has been embroiled in controversy for unjustly accusing a man in his 20s as a suspect based solely on the complainant's statement, will undergo a full-scale investigation by a higher authority. All sexual crime investigations conducted by the police station over the past year and six months are subject to this investigation.

On the 8th, the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency announced at a regular press briefing that a comprehensive investigation into the sexual violence cases handled by the Dongtan Police Station is currently underway. The full-scale investigation is led by the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency and began on the 4th. According to media reports, the police are currently reviewing various documents and materials and plan to conduct interviews with the investigators involved if necessary. Specifically, the appropriateness of the investigation procedures and the rationality of the investigation results at the police station are being examined.

[Image source=Asia Economy DB]

Earlier, on the 25th of last month, a man in his 20s, Mr. A, claimed on a YouTube channel that he was "unjustly accused as a suspect in a sexual crime," sparking controversy. At that time, Mr. A revealed that the police ignored him and spoke to him disrespectfully during the investigation. The recording he released included statements such as "Why are you shaking your hands?" and "If you're confident, stay still," which intensified the uproar.

Mr. A had been accused of voyeurism and sexual acts against a woman in her 50s, Ms. B, in the women's restroom inside the management office building next to the gym of an apartment in Hwaseong City at around 5:10 p.m. two days prior. The recording was made during the police informing Mr. A about the report being filed against him.

Meanwhile, on the afternoon of the 27th of last month, Ms. B suddenly visited the police station and confessed to making a false report. Subsequently, the police dropped the charges against Mr. A and booked Ms. B on charges of false accusation. A police official stated, "If Mr. A is willing to accept the case, we will visit him personally to offer an apology," adding, "The face-to-face apology will be made together with the investigation team leader, the officer who spoke disrespectfully to Mr. A, and the officer who said, 'If you're confident, stay still.'"

As the case became public, a wave of outrage spread across social media and other online platforms. The bulletin board on the Dongtan Police Station's website was flooded with protest messages, and some netizens even launched a petition demanding the dismissal of the police chief.