 This photo capture of video clip shows a middle school student beg her schoolmate for mercy while being ruthlessly attacked by her. |
Staff Reporter
Police started an investigation Thursday into the online circulation of a video file showing a female middle school student at a school in Incheon, ruthlessly beating another student.
However, after being accused of her misdemeanor the same day, she implored people to stop digging into the case because she won't be prosecuted anyway as she's ``only 13 years old.''
In the seven-minute-long file posted on major portals including Youtube, the offender and several others kicked the victim, swore at her and beat her relentlessly. It showed the victim begging them to stop, but they showed no mercy. In the film, the offender said the victim spread groundless rumors about her.
The clip is assumed to have been taken by one of the offender's friends between January and February but it became an issue when it was uploaded on online portals. Police are tracing how the images were uploaded.
According to the police, the offenders received relatively minor punishment from the school ― they were only ordered to clean up the campus.
However, Police said they would investigate further as the extent of the violence shown in the video clip was extreme. ``We are going to investigate and hold those responsible accountable,'' a police officer said.
The case shocked Internet users. However, the offender responded with hostility.
On her Web site, she said, ``You don't know me at all, who do you think I am? Why do you bring up things that happened in February?'' She added, ``There's nothing you can do anyway. I'm only 13 years old and they can't send me to juvenile reformatory.''
Police said the reformatory is for people over 14 years old, but should the crime be grave, they can ask for a custodial term for underage children.
bjs@koreatimes.co.kr
