Prosecutors Request Arrest Warrant for Suspect in Gwanaksan Knuckle Sexual Assault... Warrant Hearing Today

The prosecution has requested an arrest warrant for a man in his 30s accused of assaulting and sexually assaulting a woman with brass knuckles in broad daylight on Gwanaksan Mountain in Seoul.

On the 19th, the Women's and Children's Crime Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office announced that it had requested an arrest warrant for Choi (30, male) on charges of rape and injury under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act the previous day.

The hillside site located in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, where a sexual assault incident occurred on the 17th.

A prosecution official stated, "After reviewing the arrest warrant application submitted by the police for Choi, the suspect in the rape and injury case that occurred on the hiking trail in Sillim-dong, Seoul on the 17th, we found that it was a planned crime involving the use of a weapon, the victim's condition is critical, and it is a violent crime that occurred in a place where daily life takes place, increasing public anxiety. Considering the seriousness of the case and the high risk of flight and evidence destruction, we promptly requested an arrest warrant from the court yesterday evening (the 18th)."

The Gwanak Police Station in Seoul applied for an arrest warrant for Choi to the prosecution the previous afternoon.

Choi is accused of assaulting the female victim A with a metal tool, brass knuckles, and then raping her in a forest about 100 meters off the trail on Gwanaksan Mountain around 11:44 a.m. on the 17th. Police who responded to a report from a hiker who heard the victim's screams for help arrested Choi at the scene. A was transported to the hospital but is reported to be unconscious.

According to the police, Choi left his residence in Doksan-dong, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul at 9:55 a.m. on the day of the crime and arrived at the Gwanaksan Mountain trail at 11:01 a.m. Considering the report time was 11:44 a.m., it was confirmed that Choi committed the crime within an hour of arriving. Two brass knuckles, believed to be the weapons used in the crime, were found at the scene. The police secured a statement from Choi that he wore the brass knuckles on both hands and assaulted the victim.

During the police investigation, Choi reportedly stated, "I purchased the brass knuckles online four months ago with the intent to rape," and "I found the victim at the crime scene, which I frequently visited because it was close to my home, and committed the crime." The police are continuously tracking Choi's movements.

Additionally, based on Choi's statement that he chose the crime location because he frequently visited it and knew there were no closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, the police are focusing on the possibility that this was a planned crime and are continuing their investigation.

The police are also verifying hospital records following family statements that Choi had received medical treatment for depression but did not continue treatment.

The substantive hearing for Choi's arrest warrant will be held at 2:30 p.m. today at the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Kim Bong-gyu.

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