'Ran out of toilet paper' — Jeju officer who faked closure of missing person cases also charged with restroom intrusion

A Jeju police officer already detained for falsely closing missing person reports has also been referred to prosecutors on charges of entering a women's restroom.

The Jeju Provincial Police Agency said Thursday it had sent the officer, a senior corporal surnamed Bu of the Jeju Seobu Police Station, to prosecutors. He faces charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, specifically entering a multi-use facility with sexual intent.

Bu is accused of entering the women's restroom at the Jeju Seobu Police Station, where he worked, on July 22. He was caught after encountering a female officer inside the restroom, and has since been placed on standby duty pending the investigation.

At the time, Bu explained that he had gone into the women's restroom because the men's restroom had no toilet paper, denying any sexual motive. He reportedly told investigators he stayed in the restroom for three to five minutes and actually used the facility.

A police forensic examination of the scene found palm prints on both upper side walls of the restroom stall. The National Forensic Service confirmed the prints matched Bu's DNA.

Taking into account Bu's statements and the circumstances at the time, police concluded that the charge of entering the facility with sexual intent was substantiated.

Police confirmed that Bu refused to take a polygraph test during the investigation. A forensic analysis of his cellphone turned up no illicit filming or similar material.

Earlier, Bu was accused of falsely closing missing person cases while handling them. He entered fabricated records claiming he had spoken by phone with the missing individuals, when he had not actually contacted them.

He is under investigation for falsely closing missing person reports for a woman in her 30s on May 15 and a man in his 60s on July 2. He was detained on Aug. 25 and referred to prosecutors in custody on Sept. 1 on charges including dereliction of duty and forgery of official electronic records.

A comprehensive police review found 25 additional cases of improper handling among the 298 missing person cases Bu had processed, including 10 falsely closed cases and 15 cases with improper grounds for closure.