[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] A resident accused of repeatedly verbally abusing and even assaulting an apartment security guard has finally been detained.
On the 22nd, Judge Jung Soo-kyung, who is in charge of warrants at the Seoul Northern District Court, held a pre-arrest detention hearing for A (49), who is charged with assault and other offenses, and issued an arrest warrant that day. Judge Jung explained the reason for issuing the warrant, stating, "There is a risk of evidence destruction and flight."
Earlier, on the 19th, the Gangbuk Police Station in Seoul applied for an arrest warrant for A on charges including assault, intimidation, and retaliatory assault under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.
A is accused of assaulting the late security guard Choi Hee-seok over a parking dispute at the apartment where he resided on the 21st of last month.
Choi filed a police complaint against A at the end of last month on charges of assault, battery, and intimidation. Then, on the 10th of this month, Choi left a voice recording detailing the assault and verbal abuse he suffered from A before taking his own life at the apartment. It is known that A denied most of these allegations during the police investigation.
After completing the detention hearing at the court that morning, A did not respond to reporters' questions such as "Do you admit to the assault charges?" just as he had remained silent when he appeared before the police.
Meanwhile, prior to the detention hearing, a memorial group for the late security guard Choi Hee-seok held a press conference in front of the court and submitted a petition urging the court to detain A and conduct a strict investigation.
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