'Bundang Hwatu Dispute' Two Neighbors in Their 60s Murdered... Police Released Suspect Despite "Knife Present" Report

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] A man in his 60s in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, was arrested on suspicion of killing two neighboring residents after a dispute while playing Hwatu. It was confirmed that the suspect threatened the victims with a weapon just before the crime and was arrested by the police but later released.

According to the police on the 21st, the Bundang Police Station in Gyeonggi Province is investigating Mr. A (69), who was arrested on the 19th evening on suspicion of killing two women in their 70s after a dispute while playing Hwatu with neighbors at an apartment in Geumgok-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province.

Before the crime, Mr. A reported illegal gambling, but when the police who arrived withdrew due to lack of evidence, he called the police again saying, "I am holding a knife." The police who went to the victim's house arrested Mr. A on the spot for special intimidation, but he was released around 11:20 PM because he admitted the charges and had a fixed residence, so there was no need for detention.

About 40 minutes after being released, Mr. A went back to the victims around midnight carrying a soju bottle and a weapon, and the victims were found stabbed to death around 7:50 AM the next day. The police arrested Mr. A on suspicion of murder about an hour after neighbors reported the incident.

The police plan to apply for an arrest warrant for Mr. A after investigating the motive and circumstances of the crime.