'20-Year-Old Alumni Duo Sentenced to 30 Years for Detention Murder in Mapo Officetel'

Suspects An Mo and Kim Mo, accused of confining and killing a friend in an officetel, are leaving Mapo Police Station in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of June 22 to be transferred to the prosecution.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Two men in their 20s were sentenced to 30 years in prison for confining and assaulting a high school friend to death in an officetel in Mapo-gu, Seoul.

The Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 12 (Chief Judge Andongbeom) on the 21st sentenced Kim Mo (20) and Ahn Mo (20), who were charged with violating the Act on the Punishment of Violent Acts, etc. (joint coercion), to 30 years in prison each. Cha Mo, who was charged with aiding and abetting their crime, was sentenced to 10 months in prison with a 2-year probation.

On this day, the court stated, "The victim's health deteriorated to the point where he could not properly control his urination and defecation, accidentally urinating in the room as the crime prolonged," and "Even at around 3 a.m. on the day of death, when the victim's breathing became labored and his condition was critical, Kim and Ahn did not immediately take the victim to the hospital or release the cable ties that bound his body. It can be fully recognized that there was intent for murder with indirect intent."

According to the police investigation, the two suspects were middle school and university classmates and began living together in an officetel in Gangnam, Seoul, since June last year. The victim was known to have frequently visited their home since July last year. When A was voluntarily taken to Yangjae Police Station in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on November 4 last year, a police officer who noticed signs of assault on A's body contacted A's father and handed him over directly. Subsequently, on November 8, A's father filed a complaint at Dalseong Police Station in Daegu, and A appeared at the station on the 22nd of the same month, giving detailed testimony that he was beaten four times by the two at an officetel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.

The investigation into assault charges against the suspects began on January 24 this year with the preparation of interrogation records. After being accused of assault, Ahn and Kim took the victim to Seoul on March 31 to confine him for retaliation and extortion. At that time, the suspects intimidated the victim by saying, "Let's go to Seoul to work and pay off the debt." It is known that they demanded repair costs, claiming that A had "broken a laptop."

They later coerced victim A (21) into signing a 'withdrawal of complaint' contract and made him send a text message to the police stating that he was withdrawing the complaint. It was also confirmed that they extorted about 6 million won by forcing small payments on the victim's mobile phone, opening a mobile phone under the victim's name, and selling it.

Victim A was found dead naked at around 6 a.m. on the 13th in an officetel in Mapo-gu. At the time of discovery, A was severely underweight at 34 kg due to malnutrition, with signs of restraint and assault on his body. The police requested an autopsy from the National Forensic Service, which verbally indicated that the underweight condition likely contributed to the death.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.