Another Kidnapping Case

Suwon Jungbu police station sought arrest warrant Tuesday for Lee (49), Jeong (22), who were known only as their family names, on charges of attempting robbery and murder and charged without detention a person known as A (17) for the same allegation. They attempted to abduct the president of a small medium sized company and his wife for money.

The police said Lee and Jeong conspired to abduct the president, who lives on the upper floor of Lee`s apartment, and took money from him. They crashed their 1-ton truck against the president` car around 12 a.m. Monday when the president and his wife were

leaving from a factory known only as T in Suwon si Keongki Do.

They were trying to threaten the president and his wife with knives and abduct them. But while the president Lee was resisting strongly, they were detected by 2 community safety guard patrolling the street and Lee and Jeong were arrested by them.

According to the police investigation, Lee persuaded Jeong into committing crime by saying that he would give 35 million won to Jeong if he helps Lee to get back his money he lent to someone. They also gave 150 thousand won to A (17), who were doing his part time job at a oil station near T factory run by the president L, to let them know when the president`s car left from the factory.

Lee said to the police that he attempted the kidnapping as he was unhappy with the L`s family making much noise on the upper floor. But the police suspected that they premeditated the crime for money as a memo was found in their car which read, ² Bring 150 million won in a traveling bag to a place I`ll tell you. If you report to the police...? "

The police seized what they found in the car. Weapons, a duct tape, masks, a hand ax and two sacks found in the car are alleged to be bought for the crime.

According to the police, Lee and Jeong went to the place they kidnapped the president several times before the crime. They are said to have tried a failed attempt to kidnap the president and his wife last Saturday.

bibulus@donga.com