The Supreme Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-gu, Seoul. [The Herald Business]
The Supreme Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-gu, Seoul. [The Herald Business]

A man in his 20s has been indicted and detained on charges of raping his younger cousin while she slept.

The Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office's Criminal Division 1 indicted the man, identified only as A, in custody on charges of quasi-rape of a relative under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes, legal sources said Wednesday.

A is accused of sexually assaulting his younger cousin, identified as B, at his home last November while she was asleep and intoxicated.

After coming under police investigation, A turned to his parents for help. His parents then threatened B's parents — their own siblings — and coerced them into signing a statement saying they did not wish to pursue punishment, according to investigators.

Police had initially determined that A and B were not relatives and forwarded the case to prosecutors without seeking detention on charges of quasi-rape. Prosecutors confirmed the two were related, upgraded the charges and indicted A in custody.

"We will do our utmost to protect the human rights of victims who are socially vulnerable, including women and children, through active supplementary investigations," a prosecutors' office official said.


bbo@heraldcorp.com