Additional Accomplice Indicted in Gangnam Abduction and Murder Case... Charged with Preliminary Murder Conspiracy

An additional accomplice has been identified in the case of the abduction and murder of a woman in her 40s that occurred in the Gangnam district of Seoul. Although this person did not directly participate in the murder, the police have booked the additional accomplice on charges of attempted murder, considering their role in tailing the victim. Among the suspects, Lee Mo (legal office employee, 35), who has been identified as a 'key man,' reportedly suffered an investment loss of about 80 million KRW due to the victim's cryptocurrency investment company.

Among the three suspects in the abduction and murder case of a woman in her 40s that occurred in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Hwang Mo (36) is being transported by a prison transport vehicle to the Seoul Central District Court on the morning of the 3rd for a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) at the Suseo Police Station in Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

According to the police on the 3rd, Baek Nam-ik, chief of the Suseo Police Station in Seoul, stated during a press briefing, "A man in his 20s, Mr. A (unemployed), who participated in the preliminary stage of the crime but later withdrew, has been booked on charges of attempted murder," adding, "Mr. A appeared for questioning yesterday."

Mr. A received a proposal related to conspiring to murder the victim from suspect Hwang Mo (36) in January. Hwang reportedly offered Mr. A a car purchased with stolen cryptocurrency as an incentive to join the conspiracy. Subsequently, Mr. A, Hwang, and suspect Yeon Mo (30) followed the victim in a rental car. However, investigations revealed that Mr. A withdrew from the crime in mid-last month. The police plan to conduct further investigations on Mr. A before deciding on his custody status.

The specific motive of Lee, who is accused of instigating the murder, is also coming to light. Lee reportedly testified that he had invested in cryptocurrency through the victim's cryptocurrency investment company. The investment loss amounted to approximately 80 million KRW. Subsequently, Lee temporarily worked at the victim's cryptocurrency investment company and requested about 20 million KRW from the victim. Chief Baek stated, "However, this is based on Lee's testimony," adding, "This part requires verification, and related investigations are underway."

Details of the conspiracy and murder process have also been partially revealed. Lee is said to have given Hwang, who accepted the conspiracy proposal, 5 million KRW in cash in September last year, followed by about 2 million KRW later. Only Hwang and Yeon were present at the murder and body disposal site, but the three met together in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, after the murder. Hwang and Yeon handed over the victim's mobile phone, which they had obtained during the murder, to Lee, and then moved to a mountain near Daecheong Dam in Daejeon where the body was disposed of again. Lee was investigated to have traveled separately. However, it was found that Hwang and Yeon did not conduct a prior reconnaissance of the Daecheong Dam area.

It was confirmed that anesthetic components were found in the syringe used in the crime. Hwang and Yeon testified that they used the syringe during the crime. However, the police stated that they are verifying specific facts, including the origin of the syringe and drugs. Chief Baek said, "It needs to be confirmed through an autopsy whether the victim was actually administered the substance."

원본보기 아이콘

Meanwhile, the police acknowledged some shortcomings in their response and announced plans to revise the system. The victim was abducted around 11:46 PM on the 29th in front of an apartment complex in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, but the police misinterpreted the situation due to similar reports. Another incident involved a woman in her 40s in the same apartment building, and the police treated it as the same case and proceeded with the investigation. This case was resolved about two hours after the abduction occurred. Additionally, the police noted that the informant provided confusing information about another vehicle and inaccurate license plate numbers, which caused confusion in the investigation.

Chief Baek said, "It is regrettable that the wanted vehicle was identified late and that the WASS (Wanted Automobile Search System) entry was only made at 4:53 AM the day after the incident," adding, "We plan to supplement and improve these aspects."

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.