Two Arrested and Indicted for Kidnapping in Downtown Seoul... Victims Accused of Drug Charges

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] A group accused of kidnapping a man in his 20s in downtown Seoul has been brought to trial. The victim, who escaped by jumping out of the car, was indicted on drug charges.

The Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office announced on the 5th that two of the four suspects involved in the kidnapping on the 22nd of last month were arrested and indicted on charges including violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (joint confinement) and violent acts.

They kidnapped a man in his 20s, Mr. A, in Munbae-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, at around 12:20 a.m. on August 15. He escaped by jumping out of the vehicle while it was driving around Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu.

The police tracked the suspects using closed-circuit television (CCTV) and arrested one of them near Nonhyeon-dong. During the police investigation, he reportedly stated that "the perpetrator and the victim had a debtor-creditor relationship."

The kidnapping victim, Mr. A, and his girlfriend were arrested and indicted on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act (psychotropic substances) on the 29th of last month. During the investigation of the kidnapping suspects, the police obtained testimony that Mr. A was using drugs, changing his status from suspect to victim.

Mr. A, who had been missing, was later found at his girlfriend's house, and both tested positive in drug tests. On the 15th of last month, the Yongsan Police Station sent them to prosecution under arrest.