[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The police have requested an arrest warrant for a man in his 30s who kidnapped a female driver, took her car, and roamed around the Seoul metropolitan area while holding a hostage.
The Gangdong Police Station in Seoul announced on the 14th that they have applied for an arrest warrant for a man in his 30s, Mr. A, on charges including robbery and injury, obstruction of official duties, and property damage.
Mr. A is accused of kidnapping a woman, Ms. B (30), whom he did not know, at around 9:50 a.m. the previous day in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, and keeping her in the car for about seven hours while demanding ransom from her family.
Mr. A contacted Ms. B’s husband, saying, "If you send money, I will release her," and received 5 million won, but he did not release Ms. B and reportedly demanded an additional 15 million won.
Ms. B’s husband reported the kidnapping to 112 at around 3 p.m. In response, about 40 police cars and 130 officers from the Gangdong, Seocho, Songpa Police Stations in Seoul and Namyangju Police Station in Gyeonggi Province were mobilized to pursue Mr. A.
While being chased by the dispatched police, Mr. A attempted to escape by ramming police cars. When the police cars surrounded the area, he got out of the car and threatened the victim with a weapon, holding a hostage situation.
The police calmed Mr. A and persuaded him to release Ms. B. Eventually, at 5:02 p.m. on the 13th, Mr. A was apprehended in Wabu-eup, Namyangju-si without any additional harm.
It was also investigated that Mr. A drove Ms. B’s car without a license, leading to an additional charge of violating the Road Traffic Act (unlicensed driving).
The police are investigating the exact motive and circumstances of the crime.
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