Beating Someone to Death Over Unpaid Debt and Fleeing for Over 20 Years... Finally Behind Bars

Brother-in-law kidnaps, confines, and assaults over unpaid money
Turns himself in at Japanese Embassy after fleeing
Court: "Role and status in the crime very significant"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] A man in his 50s who caused a death by detaining and assaulting a person over unpaid debt and fled for more than 20 years has finally been imprisoned.

The Criminal Division 13 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Chief Judge Lee Sang-joo) announced on the 16th that it sentenced Mr. A (55), who was indicted on charges of robbery resulting in death, to 10 years in prison.

Mr. A was charged with assaulting and causing the death of the victim Mr. B (42 at the time) because he borrowed money from his brother-in-law and did not repay it.

On April 8, 1999, around 11 a.m., Mr. A, along with three acquaintances, kidnapped Mr. B in front of a wedding hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul, and took him to a basement office in a building in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.

There, Mr. A reportedly assaulted Mr. B dozens of times over his entire body with a blunt weapon, demanding repayment of the 20 million won he had borrowed.

He also ignored his acquaintances’ suggestions to take Mr. B to a hospital and instead took him to a nearby motel around 4 p.m. the same day, where he assaulted him again and detained him until 9 p.m.

Mr. A’s acquaintances eventually transported Mr. B, who had fallen unconscious, to a nearby hospital emergency room, but he ultimately died.

Immediately after the crime, Mr. A fled abroad and evaded capture for over 20 years before surrendering last year through the Japanese embassy.

During the trial, Mr. A claimed, “I did not directly assault Mr. B, and I could not have foreseen his death,” but the court did not accept this.

The court stated, “Even if the defendant did not directly assault the victim, the crime began because the defendant initially commissioned the accomplices to commit the crime,” and judged, “The defendant’s role and position in this crime were very significant.”

It added, “The defendant fled abroad for more than 20 years to avoid criminal punishment while other accomplices were under investigation and trial,” explaining the sentencing decision.