A decision on whether to arrest a man in his 40s who poured boiling water on the face of his sleeping Thai wife, causing burns, is expected on the afternoon of the 16th.
On this day, according to legal sources, the Uijeongbu District Court held a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant review) at about 10:30 a.m. for Mr. A, who is accused of aggravated injury.
Mr. A entered the courtroom wearing a black outer garment with his face covered by a hat and a mask. No physical restraints such as handcuffs or ropes were used. Police said restraints were not used because this is at the pre-arrest warrant stage and the suspect appeared voluntarily. A pre-arrest warrant is requested for a suspect whose custody has not been secured.
After finishing the review at about 11:15 a.m., Mr. A was moved to the Uijeongbu Police Station detention center. He remained silent when reporters asked, "Why did you do that to your wife?" and "Do you have anything to say to the victim?"
Mr. A is accused of pouring boiling water on the face of his Thai wife in her 30s, Ms. B, who was asleep at about 12 p.m. on the 3rd at an apartment in Howon-dong, Uijeongbu. Ms. B, who suffered second-degree burns in the incident, is currently hospitalized at a burn specialty hospital in Seoul.
The initial report was made by hospital staff who suspected assault, and police also judged that the evidence of the crime was clear and booked Mr. A. The case was first handled by the Seongdong Police Station, but was later transferred to the Uijeongbu Police Station, which has jurisdiction over Mr. A's residence.
Police issued an emergency temporary order against Mr. A, including a restraining order and separation. Early on, Mr. A said, "I wanted to make her look ugly because I was afraid Ms. B would meet another man," but once the investigation began, he changed his account, saying, "I spilled the water by accident when I fell," denying intent. Police plan to investigate the exact motive as soon as Mr. A is taken into custody.