Police receive 9 false reports on April Fool's Day

The National Police Agency said it received 9 false report cases from the total 28,620 cases from 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. nationwide on Monday.[NEWS1]

Police said Tuesday that it received nine cases of false reports on April Fool's Day and took strong action against each one.

The National Police Agency said it received a total of 28,620 cases from 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. nationwide on Monday.

Of the nine people who made false reports, seven were charged for violating the Punishment of Minor Offenses Act and two for obstructing official duties.

In Dangjin, South Chungcheong, a man called 51 times in six hours beginning at 7:14 a.m. on Monday, saying that he is "Army Sergeant Yang" and he "is engaging in prostitution in a coffee shop."

The police arrested the drunken man in his 50s and transferred him for summary trial.

In Seongnam, Gyeonggi, a man in his 50s, who was under the influence of alcohol, falsely reported to the 119 emergency hotline at 6:36 a.m. on Monday that he was "hit by a police officer."

However, it turned out that before calling 119, he was found to have been kicked out of a store by the police, after calling the 112 police hotline himself.

The police, who received the report in joint response with the fire department, arrested the man and booked him on charges of obstruction of official duties by hierarchy.

At 9:33 a.m. the same day, police received a report from a person who said, "I choked my wife to death," in Pocheon, Gyeonggi.

Seven police officers and seven firefighters were dispatched to the site following the report, which was later found to be false.

The police apprehended the man under charge for obstructing official duties.

By region, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Busan Metropolitan Police Agency and Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency each arrested two false callers, while the Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency, Chungnam Provincial Police Agency and Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency each apprehended one.

BY LEE JI-YOUNG [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]