To Stop a Breakup... A Man in His 40s Forged Documents for 'Police Special Recruitment'

Forgery of Official Document After Breakup Notice
Charged with Forgery and Use of Forged Official Documents
Also Threatened Murder with a Weapon While Drunk

A man in his 40s who deceived his girlfriend by pretending to have passed the police exam after she declared their breakup due to financial difficulties was sentenced to a suspended prison term.

On the 27th, Judge Kim Yong-shin of the Criminal Division 8 at Gwangju District Court announced that Mr. A (42), who was indicted on charges of forgery of official documents, use of forged official documents, and special threats, was sentenced to 10 months in prison with a 2-year suspension. The court also ordered probation and 120 hours of community service.

Mr. A was indicted for forging police officer appointment documents at his home in Buk-gu, Gwangju, last December. When his girlfriend, with whom he had lived for five years, notified him of their breakup citing his financial difficulties, he forged official appointment documents to deceive her into believing he had been hired as a police officer, in an attempt to maintain their relationship.

To fabricate his employment, Mr. A downloaded a government employee certificate from the internet, synthesized his personal information onto it, and inserted phrases such as "Final acceptance for police officer recruitment through special recruitment with 15 years of experience as a police sergeant." He forged official documents nine times under the name of the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency until April this year, printed them, photographed them with his mobile phone, and sent them to the victim.

Additionally, Mr. A was jointly indicted for threatening to kill the victim twice with a weapon after drinking during disputes over their breakup in April and May. Judge Kim stated, "Considering the nature, method, and frequency of the defendant's crimes, the criminality is not favorable. However, regarding the special threats, since a settlement was reached and the victim does not wish for punishment, the sentence was determined accordingly."

Meanwhile, if a public official or office falsifies documents created in the course of their duties without proper authorization, it constitutes the crime of forgery of official documents. Furthermore, using forged official documents can lead to punishment under the crime of use of forged official documents.