Arrested kidnapper confesses to two other abductions

SEOUL, March 2 (Yonhap) -- A man arrested for allegedly kidnapping a female
bakery store owner for money last month has confessed to committing two other
abductions, police said Monday.
Jeong Seung-hee, the 32-year-old suspect, was apprehended Saturday for allegedly
breaking into a bakery in western Seoul with an accomplice and abducting the
female store owner for a ransom.
The suspects released the hostage the next day after receiving fake bills worth
70 million won (US$45,622) from the victim's husband. The fake money was provided
by the police in order to track the criminals more easily.
Jeong, without knowing the ransom money was fake, bought a used motorbike for 7
million won last week. The motorbike dealer contacted authorities after realizing
that the notes all had the same serial number.
"Yes. I'm sorry," Jeong said, admitting to committing two other kidnapping
incidents that took place in October of 2008 and January of this year in Seoul,
in which he was suspected to have stolen 2.1 million won and 7 million won,
respectively.
Concerns have mounted that the forged bills may begin to circulate throughout the
country as a portion of the money was used by the kidnappers with police failing
to recall the notes for more than two weeks. According to police, the suspects
used 7.04 million won out of the total on four separate occasions.
The remaining counterfeit money was not found at the hideout where Jeong was
arrested but was supposedly burned by the suspect, according to the police. They
said traces of burned notes were found in the front yard of the house and that an
investigation is under way.
"I'm sorry, I burned (the money) from fear," said Jeong when asked by reporters
on why he burned the money.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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