[Yonhap]
[Yonhap]

A senior police officer who destroyed his son's mobile phone — key evidence in an illegal filming case involving a teacher — has been suspended from duty.

The North Jeolla Province Police Agency said Wednesday that Inspector A had been handed a suspension, a major disciplinary measure, after determining he had violated his obligations to maintain professional conduct and perform his duties faithfully. The officer's son is suspected of illegally filming a teacher.

Disciplinary measures for police officers are divided into major penalties — removal from office, dismissal, demotion and suspension — and minor penalties, which include pay cuts and reprimands.

Inspector A destroyed his son's phone in May, when the son was already under suspicion of illegal filming. He was not referred for prosecution under a provision of the Criminal Act that exempts relatives from punishment for destroying evidence related to a family member's criminal case.

However, on Aug. 19, acting Korean National Police Agency Commissioner Yoo Jae-seong publicly referenced the case, triggering an internal affairs investigation separate from any criminal proceedings.

At the time, Yoo said the officer had been transferred to another agency after "inappropriate conduct, including a violation of the duty to maintain professional dignity, was confirmed," adding that a referral to a disciplinary committee was planned.

Inspector A admitted during the internal affairs investigation that he destroyed and discarded his son's phone, which the son had used in an attempt to illegally film parts of his homeroom teacher's body.


betterj@heraldcorp.com