13-Year-Old Schoolgirl Kidnapped for 7 Days
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Police asked the public for their assistance Wednesday in the investigation into the kidnapping of a child seven days ago.
They said the kidnapped child contacted her friend Monday night to say she had escaped from the kidnapper. However, her whereabouts have yet to be confirmed.
On May 30, two men broke into a house and attacked its owner, identified as a 72-year-old Huh, before abducting his granddaughter Huh Eun-jeong, aged 13.
Immediately after the kidnapping, Huh’s other grandchild, who was hiding in another room, reported the incident to a neighbor by phone.
According to police, the two grandchildren have lived with the grandfather due to their parents’ financial hardship.
During police questioning, the 72-year-old said he was asleep when the two men came into his home. ``One of them rushed to assault me, saying `I will kill you.’ The other took my granddaughter who was trying to stop the beating,’’ police quoted him as saying.
They believe the assault was carried out by one or more people harboring a grudge against Huh given that no ransom was demanded and that he seemed to be the focus of the assault.
Ahn Jae-kyung, the chief officer investigating the case, said ``The trespassers went straight to the old man and hit him in the face. However, they stole nothing. It suggests they had some grudge against him.’’
But Huh’s inconsistent testimony has perplexed police ― he initially said the crime was committed by a single trespasser but later changed this to two.
Police have mobilized more than 700 officers to search more than 2,000 warehouses, deserted houses and waterways in the area.
``Reports from the general public are essential in order to catch the criminals and save the young girl.’’ Ahn said.