Police Official Sent to Prosecutors on Suspicion of Stealing Pouch Containing Gold Necklace Worth 1.8 Million Won

[Financial News] An on-duty police official who took a pouch of valuables left at a self-checkout counter in a large supermarket has been sent to prosecutors on theft charges.
According to Maeil Shinmun and AP Newsis on the 31st of last month, the Pohang Nambu Police Station in North Gyeongsang Province said it had referred A, a senior inspector at the Pohang Bukbu Police Station, to prosecutors on suspicion of theft.
A is accused of taking a pouch of valuables left at an unmanned self-checkout counter in a large supermarket in Pohang on the 22nd of last month.
Investigators found that at around 6:10 p.m. that day, a woman in her 30s, identified as B, left the pouch at the checkout counter and walked away. About 50 minutes later, at around 7 p.m., A picked up the pouch and left the store.
The pouch reportedly contained valuables, including a gold necklace worth about 1.8 million won.
B later realized the pouch was missing and reported it to the 112 Police Emergency Number at around 7:50 p.m. that same day.
A kept the pouch in his vehicle, went home, and then returned to the supermarket about two hours later. He identified himself as a police officer and handed the pouch to a staff member. By then, B had already filed a report about the loss.
During questioning, A reportedly denied the allegation, saying that he had taken the pouch in order to find its owner.
However, police concluded that A acted intentionally by taking the pouch to his residence instead of turning it in to the store or reporting it immediately after finding it.
A police official said, "We confirmed the facts and sent the case to prosecutors."
[email protected] Kim Su-yeon Reporter