Court further detains man suspected of kidnapping, murdering student

ANSAN, South Korea, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- A court decided Monday to further detain
a man suspected of kidnapping and murdering a 21-year-old female university
student in a town just outside Seoul.
The 38-year-old suspect, identified as a masseur surnamed Kang with a previous
record of theft and other crimes, was arrested Monday. He has confessed to
killing the student, who was last seen Dec. 19 last year and was found dead early
Sunday in the city of Gunpo, south of Seoul.
The case has drawn national attention since several other women have been
reported missing in the area in recent years. South Korea, with a population of
49 million, is considered a relatively safe country with an annual murder rate
hovering below 1,000.
"Considering the evidence and inquiry results presented to the court, there are
sufficient grounds to allege the suspect committed the crime, and given the
gravity of the issue, there is a risk he may destroy evidence or flee," Judge Lee
Won-keun of the Suwon District Court said.
The body of the student was found buried in a rice paddy 37 days after she went
missing. Kang confessed that the motive behind the killing was rape and theft,
but said he didn't actually go through with the rape because he became nervous,
according to the police.
Kang is accused of luring the victim, who was on her way home, to his car and
stealing her credit card before strangling her. His partially hidden face was
spotted by a CCTV camera installed at a Gunpo bank, where he withdrew 700,000 won
(US$503) using the victim's credit card.
Appearing before a team of investigators with his face covered by a black cap and
hood in the city of Ansan, 42 km south of Seoul, Kang told reporters he committed
the crimes "accidentally," and that he used the money for personal enjoyment.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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