Court Considers "Juvenile Under the Age of 19" Under the Juvenile Act
An arrest warrant for a 14-year-old female middle school student who set fire to her home because she was not given a new mobile phone has been dismissed by the court.
According to Gwangju Bukbu Police Station on November 22, the Gwangju District Court conducted a pre-arrest interrogation (warrant review) for a 14-year-old girl, referred to as A, who is suspected of arson of an inhabited building, and subsequently dismissed the arrest warrant.
It has been reported that the court took into consideration the fact that A is classified as a "juvenile under the age of 19" under the Juvenile Act.
A is accused of starting a fire with a lighter in her room at an apartment in Dongnim-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, where she resides, at around 10:52 p.m. on November 20.
The fire was extinguished by firefighters in about 20 minutes, but significant damage occurred, including the complete destruction of the interior and household goods. In addition, 17 residents inhaled smoke and were transported to the hospital for treatment.
An investigation revealed that A committed the crime out of dissatisfaction because her guardian refused to provide her with a mobile phone capable of using social media.
The police applied for an arrest warrant, citing A's previous probation for another incident and the seriousness of the current case, but the court did not grant the warrant.
The police plan to continue additional investigations and juvenile protection procedures for A.
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