'Re-arrested a Day Before Release' Kim Geun-sik's Detention Review Ends in About 40 Minutes

Minor sexual assault offender Kim Geun-sik / Photo by Incheon Police Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Kim Geunsik (54), who was re-arrested a day before his release after additional child sex crimes committed before his imprisonment in 2006 were discovered, appeared in court on the 19th for a detention review hearing. A detention review is a procedure in which a detained suspect challenges the legality of their detention and requests the court to reconsider.

The Criminal Division 2 of the Anyang Branch of Suwon District Court (Chief Judge Lee Sunhee) conducted the detention review hearing requested by Kim Geunsik for about 40 minutes starting at 2 p.m. that day. The court is expected to decide whether to dismiss or accept the detention review request as early as that afternoon.

Thirty minutes before the hearing, Kim Geunsik entered the parking area inside the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Anyang Branch building by riding a Ministry of Justice transport vehicle from Anyang Prison. It was reported that he denied the crimes during the hearing. He also reportedly argued for the necessity of non-custodial investigation, stating that he already had a fixed residence after release and that his face was already known, so there was no risk of flight.

He was re-arrested through a warrant review a day before his release on the 16th and will undergo prosecution investigation regarding the additional crimes discovered while in custody. At that time, Chief Judge Song Jungho of the Anyang Branch of Suwon District Court explained the reason for issuing the warrant, saying, "The crimes are substantiated, and there is a risk of flight and evidence tampering."

According to the prosecution, Kim Geunsik was accused by one victim of sexual violence that occurred in 2006. The victim was a minor 16 years ago, and under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes, which was enacted in April 2010, the statute of limitations for the additional crimes is presumed not to have expired yet.

Kim Geunsik was sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping 11 female students from elementary to high school in Incheon and the Gyeonggi area between May and September 2006. During his imprisonment, his sentence was extended by one year due to involvement in two assault incidents.

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