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| Uijeongbu Mayor Kim Dong-geun, sixth from left, joins a protest rally with Uijeongbu citizens and politicians, in front of a facility that child rapist Kim Geun-sik was scheduled to enter, Saturday. The prosecution requested another arrest warrant for Kim on the same day. Screenshot from Kim Dong-geun's Facebook account |
By Lee Yeon-woo
The court issued an arrest warrant for serial child rapist Kim Geun-sik, Saturday, one day before he was set to be released from prison, after a woman filed charges that she was raped by Kim 16 years ago when she was a minor.
The prosecution had requested the court to issue an arrest warrant for Kim earlier on Saturday.
Kim, who was expected to be released this Monday after serving 15 years in jail on charges of having raped 11 minors, will be put behind bars again.
According to the prosecution, the victim recently recognized Kim's face as the man who sexually assaulted her 16 years ago, as the media began to report on his release using his mugshot photo. She filed new charges against him with the prosecution.
Prosecutors said they analyzed relevant evidence and proved that Kim had been the attacker in the case.
"Not only is Kim's crime very serious, but also there's a possibility of Kim running away as he has no permanent residence at the moment. He could reoffend, or do harm to the victims. That's why we requested an arrest warrant," the prosecution said.
On Monday, Kim was scheduled to move into a facility affiliated with the justice ministry that helps released prisoners reintegrate into society, by offering housing as well as psychiatric, educational and other services, similar to what is known in English as a "halfway house." As Kim was assigned to enter such a facility located in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, residents who have children attending school nearby have expressed their worries.
Seven elementary, middle, and high schools and 23 facilities for minors are located within a one-kilometer radius of the facility, the city government said.
"Don't say we don't have to worry because you will watch him closely 24 hours a day. Crimes occur anyway even though there's law … We hope the facility with Kim Geun-sik leaves Uijeongbu. Justice Minister Han, who is dumping brutal criminal Kim Geun-sik on Uijeongbu's residents, should get rid of this facility," Uijeongbu Mayor Kim Dong-geun said in a statement released on Saturday.
The mayor also said that the justice ministry had denied his requests to hold a meeting at the facility. In response, he issued an administrative order shutting down roads near the facility from Sunday to prohibit Kim from entering Uijeongbu.
The Ministry of Justice has made no public comments regarding Uijeongbu City's opposition to its decision.
