Reward due for those making 'mistaken' report on Lee Dae-woo

Not only the people who tipped off the whereabouts of Lee Dae-woo, a fugitive caught on June 14 in Busan, but those who thought they recognized him and made “mistaken” report can also receive rewards. Indeed, presenting rewards to those who made false reports is unprecedented.

It was Kim, 51, who caught a sight of Lee Dae-woo entering Busan, that contributed to the police confirming his location inside the city and scrutinizing the area.

Park, 28, who made a false report, is also considered a contributor. The police force gathered at the vicinity of Haeundae Station as a response to her report somehow managed to nab Lee who happened to be around a nearby area around the same time.

The reward, 10 million won, however, is disbursed to Kim and Park 80 percent and 20 percent respectively, according to the scale of their actual contribution to his arrest.

Kim discovered Lee in a deserted house at 8:40 a.m. on June 13 in Busan. He reported Lee’s hide-out location to the Busan Dongnae Police Station which then proceeded with its sweep across Busan.

After numerous false reports following Kim’s crucial report, Park reported that “a man having a similar look of Lee dropped something like a cuff in a city bus, and got off at Haeundae Station 30 minutes ago.”

The Busan Haeundae police bought Park’s report and placed an additional force at the vicinity of Haeundae Station. Lee was caught by detectives in the area at 6:55 p.m.

However, it was later confirmed that Lee actually took an express bus from Ulsan Industrial Tower at around 5:59 p.m. and got off at the Dongbu Terminal at 6:49 p.m. which is near Haeundae Station, making Park’s report a false one.

Police official said that “Though her report was false, it in fact led to making the arrest, which deserves the reward.”