Prosecution Seeks 9-Year Sentence for Chinese National Man Who Kidnapped Female Driver and Held Hostage

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The prosecution has requested a 9-year prison sentence for a Chinese national who kidnapped a female driver and held a hostage situation while roaming around the Seoul metropolitan area.

On the 25th, at the first trial held at the Seoul Eastern District Court Criminal Division 11 (Chief Judge Son Joo-chul), the prosecution asked the court to sentence Park Mo (31), who was indicted on charges of robbery and injury, and hostage injury, to 9 years in prison.

Park is accused of kidnapping a woman A (30), whom he did not know, in a parking lot in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 13th, and driving around with her in the car for about 7 hours while demanding ransom from her family. He also drove A’s car without a license, rammed a police car chasing him, and after getting out of the car, threatened the victim with a weapon and held a hostage situation.

Park’s defense attorney said, "The defendant deeply regrets the crime," and added, "As the head of the family responsible for the livelihood of his family in China, he committed this crime due to the pressure of having to send living expenses to his family." He continued, "He sincerely wants to compensate the victim and apologize, but is in a very difficult financial situation making compensation difficult," and asked the court to consider this and reduce the sentence as much as possible.

Park’s sentencing is scheduled for October 16.