Boy referred to prosecutors on charges of violating the Stalking Punishment Act

Police preserve the scene at a palm tree farm in Hallim-eup, Jeju, where the body of a missing woman was found in August amid the fallout from the Jeju missing-person false-closure case. [Newsis]
Police preserve the scene at a palm tree farm in Hallim-eup, Jeju, where the body of a missing woman was found in August amid the fallout from the Jeju missing-person false-closure case. [Newsis]

A 14-year-old boy who repeatedly called and sent text messages to the family of a woman who went missing in Jeju and was later found dead — making inappropriate demands — has been referred to prosecutors.

The Korean National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters said Thursday it had referred the boy, identified only as A, to prosecutors on charges of violating the Stalking Punishment Act after he contacted the missing woman's family 29 times by phone and text message.

A allegedly reached out through a contact number the family had made public, telling them he would help find the missing woman if they "let him hear moaning sounds," and continued to contact them repeatedly.

Because A is 14 — not under 14, the threshold for criminal immunity under the Criminal Act — he does not qualify as a juvenile under criminal age and is subject to criminal punishment.

The National Investigation Headquarters said spreading false information about the deceased or mocking and denigrating her constitutes secondary harm — causing additional pain to the bereaved family and damaging her reputation — and can be punishable depending on the nature and severity of the conduct.

Police said they would continue to monitor secondary harm targeting the deceased and her family, and would track down and strictly respond to any confirmed violations.


betterj@heraldcorp.com