Decision on Detention of 20-Year-Old Assaulting Jo Doo-soon to Be Made Today

Published 18 Dec.2021 14:32(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The decision on whether to detain a man in his 20s who entered the home of child sex offender Jo Doo-soon (69) and struck his head with a blunt weapon is expected to be made on the 18th.

The assault suspect, Mr. A (21), was escorted from the Ansan Danwon Police Station, where he was being held, to the Suwon District Court Ansan Branch in the afternoon for a pre-trial detention hearing (warrant review).

When asked by reporters why he wielded the blunt weapon, Mr. A claimed, "Jo was the one who first raised the blunt weapon." However, he left without answering follow-up questions such as "Did Jo attack first?"

Regarding this, a police official explained, "The claim that Jo first raised the blunt weapon is Mr. A's statement, while Jo testified that Mr. A entered the house while cursing and then found and swung the blunt weapon," adding, "Since the accounts conflict, we need to verify through circumstantial evidence and other means."

Mr. A is a day laborer working at a logistics center in Gyeonggi Province. It was investigated that on the 16th at around 8:50 p.m., after drinking a bottle of soju, he went to Jo's residence and committed the act.

He reportedly introduced himself as a police officer at Jo's front door and knocked. When Jo opened the door, a verbal altercation ensued, during which Mr. A picked up and swung a blunt weapon that was inside the house.

Jo sustained some facial lacerations and received hospital treatment, but the injuries were confirmed to be not severe.

During police questioning, Mr. A reportedly stated, "I was angry about the sex crimes Jo committed and went to his house with the intention of instilling fear. I did swing the blunt weapon in a fit of rage upon seeing him, but I don't clearly remember the specific details."