A woman in her 20s surnamed Kim, accused of handing over drinks mixed with drugs and causing the deaths of two Namsung, was arrested on the 12th.
Choi Gi-won, the warrant judge at the Seoul Northern District Court, conducted a pretrial detention review (warrant review) for Kim that day and issued the warrant, saying there was a risk of flight. Kim faces charges of injury resulting in death and violating the Narcotics Control Act.
According to police, from December last year to the 9th of this month, Kim allegedly handed drinks containing benzodiazepine-class drugs to three Namsung in their 20s, causing two to die and injuring one. Benzodiazepines are psychoactive pharmaceutical ingredients used to treat insomnia and anxiety disorders.
The most recent incident occurred on the 9th at a motel in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk District. After checking in with a Namsung in his 20s, Kim left alone about two hours later, and the Namsung was found dead in the room the next day. After receiving the report, police identified Kim based on CCTV and other evidence and made an emergency arrest the same night in Mia-dong, Gangbuk District.
In a search and seizure conducted immediately after the arrest, a large quantity of drugs and empty beverage bottles were reportedly found at Kim's residence. Police sent the drugs to the National Forensic Service for detailed analysis and secured Kim's mobile phone for forensic examination.
During questioning, Kim was quoted as saying, "I mixed medication prescribed at a hospital into a hangover cure and carried it with me," and "A fight broke out at the motel, and I only handed it over to put the other person to sleep; I did not anticipate death." The medication in question was in fact confirmed to have been prescribed to Kim through psychiatric treatment. Kim also reportedly claimed that the person's death was only learned after police contacted her.
The investigation expanded based on earlier similar reports. Police late last month received a complaint from a Namsung saying, "I lost consciousness after drinking a beverage given by Kim," and during the investigation identified circumstances in which, in December last year at a location in Namyangju, Gyeonggi, a fatigue recovery drink was consumed followed by a collapse requiring hospital treatment. In addition, on the 28th of last month, Kim entered a motel with a Namsung in his late 20s and then checked out alone, and the Namsung was was found dead the next day.
Police plan to consider the possibility of applying murder charges through additional investigation, including deploying profilers.