Court cites risk of evidence destruction, flight

Suspect skipped warrant hearing, refused to speak to police

Woman in her 20s investigated over alleged sex trafficking

Police probe revenge, cover-up as possible motives

Police set up a cordon at the scene of a killing in Jeongneung-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where a man in his 50s is suspected of murdering a teenage girl on Wednesday. [Newsis]
Police set up a cordon at the scene of a killing in Jeongneung-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where a man in his 50s is suspected of murdering a teenage girl on Wednesday. [Newsis]

A man in his 50s suspected of killing a 15-year-old girl — a victim in a sex crime case involving his son — has been detained in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Police confirmed that the suspect destroyed the victim's mobile phone after the killing and are investigating the precise motive. An arrest warrant has also been sought for a woman in her 20s who is in a common-law relationship with the suspect and is alleged to have coerced the girl into prostitution and other activities.

Judge Kang Yeong-hun of the Seoul Northern District Court issued an arrest warrant Friday for the suspect, identified only as A, 59, citing the risk of evidence destruction and flight.

A did not appear for the pre-arrest hearing. The court reviewed investigative records submitted without the suspect present before deciding to issue the warrant.

The Seongbuk Police Station applied for A's arrest warrant on Thursday. Police relayed to the court that A had repeatedly indicated he would not attend the hearing. A has also refused to make any statement during police questioning.

A is suspected of killing 15-year-old B at a short-term rental accommodation in Jeongneung-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday. Police arrested A at the lodging in the early hours of the following morning, when A was found in an intoxicated state.

A man in his 50s has been arrested on suspicion of killing a teenage girl — a victim in a sex crime case involving his son — in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. [AI-generated image]
A man in his 50s has been arrested on suspicion of killing a teenage girl — a victim in a sex crime case involving his son — in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. [AI-generated image]

Analysis of closed-circuit television footage obtained by police showed that on the day of the killing, A visited two household goods stores in Incheon and separately purchased a weapon and charcoal briquettes.

A arrived at the lodging at around 5:17 p.m. and entered the building together with B, who had arrived earlier. About three hours later, at around 8:30 p.m., A left the premises alone, wandered the surrounding area, and smashed B's mobile phone before discarding it, according to the investigation.

Police recovered the discarded phone and have requested a digital forensic analysis. Investigators plan to use the findings to establish the sequence of events, including the pair's communications and their movements before and after the incident.

Police are also investigating C, a person in their 20s who is in a common-law relationship with A, in connection with the case.

The Seoul Northern District Prosecutors Office applied Friday for an arrest warrant for C on charges including incitement to theft, receipt of stolen goods, fraud, and violations of the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth from Sexual Exploitation. The decision came after investigators conducted a pre-arrest interview with C.

Police are examining whether C recruited B and A's son into so-called "compensated dating" arrangements through online chat applications and whether C was involved in schemes to steal money and valuables from the men they met.

B's bereaved family is reported to have filed a complaint with police alleging that C used psychological control to coerce B into prostitution and running away from home, and directed B to steal expensive watches from the family's house. The facts surrounding those allegations remain under investigation.

This is not the first time C has been the subject of an arrest warrant application. The Nowon Police Station sought a warrant in July on charges including incitement to theft, but prosecutors at the time declined to bring the warrant application before a court.

After conducting additional investigation, police resubmitted the warrant application to the Northern District Prosecutors Office on Sunday, and the office brought it before the court Friday.

The short-term rental where the killing took place was also confirmed to have been booked under C's name.

A, who had no fixed address at the time and had been moving between motels and jjimjilbang, is reported to have relied on C for day-to-day support. The lodging where the incident occurred is understood to have been booked by C at A's request.

However, it has not been established whether C was directly involved in the killing itself, separate from the fact that the accommodation was booked in C's name.

B was also a victim in a statutory rape case committed by A's son in January. B's parents had filed a complaint against A's son, and that investigation was ongoing.

Under current law, sexual intercourse with a child or youth under the age of 16 is subject to criminal punishment regardless of consent, under certain legal conditions.

A's son was convicted separately of stealing money and valuables from people met through compensated dating arrangements. On Oct. 15, the son was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, on theft charges, and is currently in detention in connection with a separate theft case.

Police are keeping open both the possibility that A killed B as an act of revenge over the son's sex crime case and the possibility that A sought to conceal crimes linked to C. The specific motive for the killing has not yet been confirmed.

B had been under the care of a youth shelter since early this year and had moved between several facilities. On the day of the incident, B left the shelter and did not return. When B failed to come back by the designated curfew, shelter staff reported the disappearance to police.

The case has prompted calls to strengthen the protection system for youth victims of sexual exploitation.

Organizations supporting victims of prostitution urged Thursday a comprehensive review of the protection and support system, pointing to failures including the inadequate separation of victimized youth from their alleged abusers.

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Won Min-kyung also said in response to the case that the government would strengthen the youth safety net and improve policies to support the recovery and independence of victimized youth.


kwater@heraldcorp.com