Reflected in Warrant for Illegal Filming and Possession of Videos
Charged with Threatening and Attempting to Kidnap a Teenager
A man in his 40s who attempted to kidnap a high school student by threatening them with a weapon in an apartment elevator and forcibly taking them to the top floor, the 18th floor, has been arrested. The photo is a file photo. Photo by Yonhap News.
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Gun-chan] A man in his 40s who threatened a female student with a weapon in an apartment elevator and attempted to kidnap her has been finally arrested after the police's second warrant application.
On the 28th, the Uijeongbu District Court Goyang Branch announced that it had issued an arrest warrant for Mr. A (42), who was charged with attempted abduction for sexual assault, violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes (filming using a camera, etc.), and violation of the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles against Sexual Abuse.
The court stated the reason for detention, saying, "There is a risk of flight and evidence destruction, and there is a danger of causing additional harm to the victim."
Earlier, the police applied for an arrest warrant for Mr. A on the 9th, but the court dismissed the warrant, citing "no risk of reoffending or flight."
After the warrant was dismissed and the suspect living in the same apartment was released, the victim's family and neighbors reportedly expressed extreme anxiety and wrote petitions. The Korean Women Lawyers Association also issued a statement expressing regret over the court's decision.
Through supplementary investigations including forensic analysis of the suspect’s mobile phone, the police additionally confirmed that Mr. A secretly filmed the bodies of female juveniles outdoors in June and possessed illegal videos such as child sexual exploitation materials, which were reflected in the warrant.
Subsequently, on the 26th, the police reapplied for an arrest warrant, applying four charges including attempted abduction for sexual assault, violation of the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (filming using a camera and possession of filmed materials), and violation of the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles against Sexual Abuse (possession of sexual exploitation materials).
Mr. A is accused of threatening high school student Ms. B with a weapon in an elevator of an apartment in Goyang City at around 7:15 p.m. on the 7th and forcibly dragging her to the top floor, the 18th floor, attempting to kidnap her.
When the elevator stopped on the 18th floor and Mr. A encountered another resident, he fled but was caught by police who responded to the report in the apartment complex parking lot.
Investigations revealed that Mr. A is a resident of the same apartment complex as Ms. B and followed her into the elevator after seeing her returning home outside the apartment building. Mr. A is reported to have admitted to all charges.
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