DNA test becomes decisive clue to trace crime in 6 years

Four men have been arrested for robbing a foreign exchange booth six years ago thanks to a recent DNA test.

The arrests came about on May 20 when Shin, 26, a member of the four, was booked without physical detention by a Seoul police station for sexually molesting a woman.

The National Forensic Service confirmed that the DNA from epithelial cells of the suspect matched that of a blood stain collected six years ago, according to police. At that time, the DNA was not obligatorily collected but became mandatory since July 2010 according to new rules.

Police said that he stole 27 million won from the exchange booth at a game center in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, in June, 2006. He would have been free from indictment if he was not caught over the next 10 months.

The remaining three collaborators were also arrested.

A police officer said that the blood stain was collected at the scene, and was assumed to have been dropped from a wound suffered by the criminal while he was breaking the window.

“This case is a great example of why we need DNA testing,” said the police officer.