Kathmandu. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s National Police Agency (NSA) has launched a nationwide special enforcement campaign targeting insurance fraud and illicit medical institutions for nine months from February 2 to October 31. The campaign will include rapid and coordinated research.
According to local media, the campaign will focus on fraud involving both public and private insurance schemes, as well as illegal activities involving the establishment and operation of unlicensed medical facilities (commonly called office hospitals) and obtaining insurance payments.
According to officials, insurance fraud is a regular occurrence. “It exploits the complexities of the insurance system and leads to financial losses,” they said.
In recent years, office-based hospital fraud activities have become increasingly organized in South Korea. That includes coordinated plans. In this, industry insiders and brokers use their insurance expertise to plan and execute crimes in collaboration with medical professionals.
Over the next 9 months, dedicated investigative resources, including anti-corruption, economic crime and mobile criminal investigation units, will be deployed in regional police agencies. For this, the selected police intelligence teams will be designated as special insurance fraud investigation units.
For organized or recurrent crime, authorities plan to invoke provisions under the Criminal Groups Organization Act in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Service. It also plans to implement measures such as pre-trial forfeiture and recovery of criminal funds and improperly claimed medical benefits.
Police will also encourage public reporting by awarding prizes to key informants and informants. –Agency
