Two Cohabitants Appear for Warrant Hearing in 'Real Estate Sale Dormitory Confinement and Fall Incident'

Silent in response to questions about admission of charges

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don, Trainee Reporters Hwang Seo-yul and Lee Myung-hwan] Two men who confined and subjected a man in his early 20s to harsh treatment at a real estate sales dormitory in Hwagok-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, appeared for a pre-arrest detention hearing on the 24th.

At around 10:30 a.m., Judge Lim Hae-ji, in charge of warrants at the Seoul Southern District Court, held a pre-arrest detention hearing for Kim Mo (22), the manager of the real estate sales dormitory, and Choi Mo (25), who had been subject to a pre-arrest detention request. The decision on whether to detain them is expected to be made late in the afternoon.

At around 10 a.m., the two appeared at the court entrance wearing black hats and padded jackets. When reporters asked questions such as "Do you admit the charges?" and "Do you have anything to say to the victim?" they remained silent and quickly entered the court. After about 40 minutes of the warrant hearing, they left the court without making any statements.

They are accused, along with four others who were previously detained, of causing serious injury by forcing Kim Mo (21), who was staying with them on the 7th floor of a villa at 10:08 a.m. on the 9th of this month, to jump (charges include special confinement and injury, etc.).

The victim, Kim, had come to the dormitory after seeing a post on social media by Won Mo (22), the spouse of Team Leader Park, which said "Runaways provided with food and lodging," but fled about two weeks later.

However, at around 12:27 a.m. on the 4th of this month, he was caught by the group in front of a motel in Myeonmok-dong, Jungnang-gu, and returned to the dormitory, where he was subjected to harsh treatment including head shaving and cold water punishment.

He attempted to escape again on the 7th, but was caught at around 2 a.m. on the 9th in the Suwon Station waiting room, after which he was beaten with a wooden sword, fists, and feet, and bound with tape, among other abuses.

The police believe that Kim fell while trying to escape by climbing over the veranda to the outside roof on the day he fell.

On the 15th, the police obtained a search warrant for the villa and seized items used in the abuse, including a wooden sword, an electric pet hair clipper, tape packaging, and rubber hoses.

The Gangseo Police Station in Seoul, investigating the case, plans to reapply for a pre-arrest warrant for Won Mo (22), the wife of the sales team leader Park Mo (28, detained), who remains under investigation without detention.

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