First-Time Female Rubber Mallet Assault... Court Denies Arrest Warrant, "No Flight Risk"

Suspected of repeatedly assaulting an unfamiliar woman on the way home
Police apply attempted murder charges and request arrest warrant
Court denies warrant citing no flight risk and other reasons

A man in his 30s was arrested by the police on suspicion of following a woman he met for the first time on her way home and hitting her head with a rubber mallet. The police applied charges of attempted murder and requested an arrest warrant, but the court dismissed the request.

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] A man in his 30s who followed a woman he saw for the first time on her way home and hit her head with a rubber hammer has been arrested by the police. The police applied charges of attempted murder and requested an arrest warrant, but the court dismissed it.

Seoul Jongno Police Station announced on the 9th that Mr. A (32), who is suspected of attempted murder and trespassing, is under investigation without detention.

According to the police, Mr. A is accused of following Ms. B (43), who was returning home near Donu-dong, Jongno-gu, around 12:30 a.m. on the 4th, and hitting her head several times with a rubber hammer. Ms. B ran to a main road to seek help, and Mr. A is known to have hidden on the rooftop. The police, who were on patrol, arrested Mr. A around 1 a.m. Ms. B was transported to the hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.

Police investigations revealed that Mr. A and Ms. B were strangers, and Mr. A reportedly stated, "I drank a lot and don't remember."

The police applied charges of attempted murder rather than aggravated injury and requested an arrest warrant for Mr. A on the day of the arrest. However, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed the warrant, citing "no risk of flight, remorse shown by Mr. A, and no threat to Ms. B's life."

The police plan to investigate the exact circumstances of the incident through analysis of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and consider reapplying for the warrant.