Busan rape case sparks anklet debate

Amid shock and grief over the death of a teenage rape victim in Busan, the government and the ruling party have set to work on strengthening supervision measures on sex-crime convicts.

"We urge the parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee to hurry deliberation on the pending bills on sex crimes against minors," said the ruling Grand National Party floor leader Ahn Sang-soo yesterday.

He demanded the electronic anklet law be revised to be applied retroactively to sex offenders convicted before the revision.

A law took effect in September 2008 to force sex crime convicts to wear traceable electronic anklets but it did not bind those who had been convicted and released before the effectuation.

Ahn also requested the cooperation of opposition parties in efforts to eradicate sex crimes against minors.



"The bills on child molestation are to be passed by the end of the March plenary session by any means necessary," he said. "The committee should feel responsible for neglecting the issue, which should have been a top priority."

The Supreme Prosecutor`s Office also held an urgent video conference yesterday on revising the anklet law.

"We will submit a revision bill to the Justice Ministry as soon as possible in order to segregate serious sex offenders from society and especially from minors," said a prosecutorial official.

The prosecution will, however, further consider whether to include ex-convicts, said the official. "The retroactive effect of a law is a sensitive issue and needs sufficient discussion before it is introduced," he said.

The funeral of Lee Yu-ri, the 13-year-old victim in Busan, took place yesterday.

Lee, after disappearing on Feb. 24, was found dead inside a rooftop water tank just 100 meters from her house. She had died from suffocation and her body showed signs of rape, according to officials.

The suspect, Kim Gil-tae, was released last June after having served time in jail, but was under no supervision or anklet restrictions.

He has served time for rape and attempted rape.

The Busan police organized a task force to apprehend him, but so far say they have no leads.

Last year, 1,017 cases of sexual violence against children occurred, according to the National Police Agency yesterday. In 122 cases, the victim was under 7 in age.

(tellme@heraldm.com)







By Bae Hyun-jung