Man in His 40s Initially Referred for Prostitution Charged with Sexual Assault of Minor After Prosecution Investigation

▲ Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office Gangneung Branch

A man in his 40s who was initially referred to the prosecution on charges of prostitution has been indicted while in custody after a supplementary investigation revealed he had sexually assaulted a minor.

The Gangneung Branch of the Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office announced on July 2 that it has indicted A (43) on charges of violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles against Sexual Abuse (rape resulting in injury).

A is accused of picking up B (16), whom he met through a chat app, in his vehicle on December 7 of last year and striking her in the head multiple times while driving around the Gangneung area.

According to the indictment, A also allegedly threatened B with a weapon, forced her to drink alcohol to render her unable to resist, and sexually assaulted her at a motel.

Initially, the police referred A to the prosecution in April on charges of violating the Act on the Punishment of Arrangement of Commercial Sex Acts (prostitution), assault, and special intimidation, while deciding not to refer the rape charge.

However, after receiving the case following an objection filed by B's side, the prosecution launched a supplementary investigation. They uncovered that the incident was not a simple case of prostitution based on the victim's consent, but rather a sexual assault in which the perpetrator threatened and raped a minor, causing her injury.

The prosecution re-seized the memory chip from the dashcam in A's vehicle, which the police had referred without conducting digital forensic procedures, and performed data recovery.

Additionally, they secured his mobile phone and tablet PC through search and seizure warrants for his residence and telecommunications records, and conducted digital forensics.

As a result, videos and data were recovered from the dashcam and mobile phone showing A threatening the victim with a weapon while aware that she was a minor, forcing her to drink, and taking her to a motel by force.

Furthermore, based on the sexual assault evidence collection kit and the victim's testimony, the prosecution confirmed that the victim had sustained injuries.

The analysis of the forensic data from the mobile phone, along with A's history of sexual offenses and internet search records, also revealed that he had planned the crime in advance, including scouting for minors on social media to satisfy his sexual desires and preparing a weapon and alcohol beforehand.

Based on the results of this supplementary investigation, the prosecution requested an arrest warrant for A on June 22, which the court issued on June 24.

The prosecution determined that prostitution and rape are legally incompatible offenses, and therefore dropped the prostitution charge. They also decided not to apply separate charges for assault and special intimidation, as those acts were committed during the course of the rape.

Consequently, A was indicted while in custody solely on charges of violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles against Sexual Abuse.

A prosecution official stated, "We will continue to respond strictly to crimes against socially vulnerable groups, such as sexual offenses against children and juveniles, through responsible supplementary investigations," adding, "We will also do our utmost to support the victim in her recovery to daily life."

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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