Prosecution Indicts Kim Geun-sik for 2006 Minor Sexual Assault, Detained

Incheon Case Suspect Arrested One Day Before Release Found Not Guilty... Victim's Testimony Error
Additional Charges of Habitual Assault on Prison Guards and Inmates While Incarcerated

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] Child sex offender Kim Geun-sik (54) has been brought to trial again on charges of another child molestation and assaulting correctional officers and inmates. However, the prosecution dismissed the charges of forcibly molesting a minor committed 16 years ago in Incheon, for which he was arrested a day before his release.

The Anyang Branch of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Seong-hoon) indicted Kim Geun-sik on the 4th on charges of violating the former Sexual Violence Punishment and Victim Protection Act (rape of a minor under 13), obstruction of official duties, and habitual assault.

According to the prosecution, Kim Geun-sik is accused of forcibly molesting a victim under 13 years old near an elementary school in Gyeonggi Province in September 2006 by threatening to kill the child with a weapon. Additionally, while incarcerated at Haenam Prison in December 2019, Kim allegedly assaulted a correctional officer who was trying to stop an argument between inmates, and in July last year, he assaulted another correctional officer who tried to quell his disturbance. Furthermore, from January 2017 to December 2019, he is accused of habitually assaulting fellow inmates with whom he had disputes over meal distribution and other issues.

The prosecution conducted a thorough investigation of unsolved cases similar to Kim Geun-sik’s crimes, held by the police from August this year to this month, and discovered an unsolved case of child molestation. They confirmed that DNA from an unidentified suspect was preserved in the case and requested DNA analysis from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's DNA and Chemical Analysis Division, comparing the unidentified suspect's DNA with Kim Geun-sik’s. The results confirmed a match, leading to a confession regarding the 2006 sex crime committed by Kim.

Based on the evidence obtained, the prosecution secured a second arrest warrant for the newly discovered 2006 child molestation charges and detained Kim. The previously detained charge of forcibly molesting a minor in Incheon was dismissed, and his detention was canceled.

Moreover, the prosecution meticulously reviewed Kim Geun-sik’s 15 years of incarceration records and secured evidence proving that he habitually used violence against other inmates and obstructed correctional officers’ duties. Based on this, investigations including correctional officer interviews confirmed habitual violence during his imprisonment.

The prosecution explained that the case for which Kim was detained and transferred from Incheon involved a crime that occurred near the location of a previously convicted offense by Kim, with similar methods and credible victim testimony, providing substantial grounds to suspect guilt, leading to the request and issuance of an arrest warrant by the court.

However, while collecting additional evidence by reviewing records stored in warehouses of seven police stations, they discovered an unsolved case closed in February 2005, believed to involve the victim, stored at one police station. They confirmed this case was the same as the one transferred from Incheon. After comprehensive analysis of victim statements by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and expert consultations, they precisely identified the date of the offense and confirmed that Kim was in custody at that time, resulting in dismissal of the charges.

Regarding the child molestation case indicted today, the prosecution plans to request an electronic monitoring order (electronic ankle bracelet) for Kim Geun-sik and also seek an order for sexual impulse drug treatment.

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