Rapist Caught After 17 Years: DNA Could Not Be Fooled

Court Sentences Defendant to 5 Years in Prison

A man in his 40s, who was apprehended 17 years after committing rape, has been sentenced to prison.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the 12th Criminal Division of the Incheon District Court (Presiding Judge Choi Younggak) sentenced Mr. A, a man in his 40s who was indicted on charges including trespassing and rape, to five years in prison on January 22 and ordered his immediate detention in court. He was also banned from working at institutions related to children, adolescents, or people with disabilities for five years each.

Mr. A was indicted without detention on charges of raping a woman, Ms. B, in the emergency stairwell of an apartment in Seoul in June 2009, 17 years ago. Investigations revealed that after taking the elevator together, he forcibly dragged Ms. B away while she was entering her front door password and committed the crime.

DNA. (This photo is not directly related to the article.) Pixabay Pixabay

The court stated, "The defendant followed the victim, who was on her way home, and while the victim was entering her front door password, dragged her into the emergency stairwell and raped her," adding, "Given the method and nature of the crime, the severity is extremely grave. The victim had to endure long-term psychological suffering while the perpetrator remained unidentified."

However, the court explained, "The sentence was determined comprehensively, taking into account that the defendant has admitted to the crime, shown remorse, and made a criminal deposit."

This case had remained unsolved for a long time. However, Mr. A was later apprehended in connection with another case of trespassing and forcible molestation, during which DNA collected matched the DNA from the previous crime scene, identifying Mr. A as the perpetrator. After further investigation, prosecutors brought Mr. A to trial in April last year. It was also revealed that Mr. A had a prior criminal record for forcible molestation and other offenses.