A Vietnamese international student suspected of abandoning a newborn baby and causing the baby's death has been arrested. A friend who helped avoided arrest.
Lee Jeong-jae, Director General and warrant judge at the Seoul Central District Court, held a pretrial detention hearing for suspects A and B, both mothers in their 20s, on a charge of child abuse murder under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Child Abuse, and issued a warrant to detain A. The Director General said the warrant was issued because "there is a concern about flight."
However, the request for a detention warrant for B was dismissed. The Director General said, "In light of the statements of the suspect and related persons, and the contents of text messages, the showing is insufficient as to the suspect's prior collusion and criminal intent," adding, "Given the seriousness of the case, it is necessary to allow the suspect to fully exercise the right to defense while not in custody."
The judge added, "Most of the evidence has been collected, and it is also difficult to see a risk that the suspect would destroy evidence beyond the scope of exercising a legitimate right to defense," and "It is hard to recognize reasons and proportionality to justify detaining the suspect."
A is suspected of abandoning the baby in front of a building near Dongguk University's Seoul campus at about 6:25 p.m. on the 14th. B, a friend, is suspected of participating in the crime.
At the time, police and fire authorities were dispatched after receiving a report that "a newborn had been abandoned in a paper bag," and transported the baby to a hospital, but the baby ultimately died. Police are conducting an autopsy on the body of the deceased baby to determine the exact cause of death.
A is known to have entered Korea while pregnant on the 12th to participate in a short-term Korean language program.