30s Arrested for Killing Neighbor and Arson After Dispute Over Cheungkan Nusu

"Risk of Flight" Detention Warrant Issued

A man in his 30s accused of killing a neighbor over an inter-floor water leakage dispute and setting fire to a multi-family house in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, was arrested on the 19th.

Kim Ji-sook, the judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Southern District Court, conducted a pre-arrest detention hearing for Jeong Mo, a man in his 30s charged with murder and arson of an inhabited building, and issued an arrest warrant citing "risk of flight."

A man in his 30s, Jeong Mo, who is accused of arson murder against a neighbor he had disputes with over inter-floor water leakage, is leaving the Seoul Southern District Court in Yangcheon-gu after completing the pre-arrest suspect interrogation on the 19th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

After the hearing, Jeong told reporters, "Whether voluntarily or involuntarily, it was an accident, and I apologize for not resolving it quickly." When asked why he set the fire, he replied, "Because I was very scared."

Jeong is accused of killing a woman in her 70s, identified as A, who lived alone on the second floor of a three-story multi-family house in Sinwol-dong, Yangcheon-gu, on the 14th, and then setting the fire. A was found dead at the fire scene. Based on the weapon left at the scene and the wounds on the body, the police concluded that A was killed before the fire started and identified Jeong, who lived in the upper unit, as a suspect and pursued him. Jeong was arrested at 12:22 a.m. the day before at a motel in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, four days after the crime.

During the police investigation, Jeong reportedly stated that he killed the victim and set the fire after arguing over the inter-floor water leakage issue.