Man Sent to Prosecution in Custody for Stalking Ex-Girlfriend and Threatening with Weapon... Detention Denied (Comprehensive)

Crimes Spanning 5 Months
Prosecutors Cite "Insufficient Evidence of Repeated Risk"
"Request for Arrest Warrant Application"
Warrant Issued After Supplementary Investigation

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] A man accused of stalking his ex-girlfriend for five months and threatening her with a weapon has been sent to detention. The police reportedly applied for his detention in a holding cell, but the request was denied.

On the 19th, the Eunpyeong Police Station in Seoul announced that on the 18th of last month, they sent Mr. A, who is charged with violating the Stalking Punishment Act, property damage, and special threats, to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office under detention.

Mr. A is accused of visiting the victim, Mr. B's house multiple times over five months starting in March. He is also charged with threatening Mr. B using a weapon. On the 4th of last month, when the victim did not open the door, Mr. A reportedly damaged the front door with a weapon and inserted the weapon into the door gap.

In response, the police applied for Provisional Measure No. 4, but the prosecution reportedly dismissed it. Provisional Measure No. 4 is a system that allows the court to detain a perpetrator in a holding cell if there is a risk of stalking recurrence.

A representative from the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office explained the reason for dismissal, stating, "Regarding the police's application for the provisional measure around the 4th of last month, only the facts of the crime were included, and due to insufficient evidence of the 'risk of repetition' under the Stalking Act, the detention request was dismissed." He added, "Considering that this case involves a crime of carrying a weapon, the serious nature of the offense, and the severity of the behavior, we requested the police to apply for an arrest warrant."

Subsequently, the police conducted supplementary investigations following the prosecution's request for an arrest warrant application. They secured closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, confirming additional stalking offenses by Mr. A around March. The police applied for an arrest warrant for Mr. A on the 11th of last month, and the court issued the warrant on the 17th of the same month.