6 Arrested Over Murder of Korean Businessman in Guatemala
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Six people including two Koreans, suspected of killing a Korean businessman in Guatemala, have been arrested by local police, according to a source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Friday.
The 56-year-old victim identified by his surname Song appeared to become the target of the suspects after he won $240,000 at a casino, it added.
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"Among the suspects are two Koreans who recently went to casino with Song," the source said, asking to remain anonymous. "They are believed to have committed the crime after they learned he won $240,000 at a casino."
The two Koreans are known to have been acquaintances of the victim.
After returning from the casino, they allegedly brought four Guatemalan police officers and one soldier into their scheme to kidnap the jackpot winner.
The authorities are still searching for the other suspect, who was working as a police officer.
The kidnappers asked for $1.5 million in ransom after abducting Song on Jan. 18 and pocketed about $6,000 from officials working at a sewing factory the victim owned.
The two acquaintances were reportedly ordered to slay the abductee as he recognized them.
Guatemalan police authorities arrested the six suspects Thursday.
Song was found dead on a hill in Talin, about 40 kilometers west of Guatemala City, earlier this month.
An official for the foreign ministry said that Koreans there should take precautions, given the security situation in the Latin American country.
"According to statistics, around 16 people are shot dead every day and about 6,000 people per year die as a result of felonies," he said, requesting anonymity.
It is not rare to hear of kidnapping cases and subsequent murders since a contract killing there only costs a few hundred dollars, he added.
He urged Koreans to avoid going to dangerous places and watch out when leaving financial institutions and banks.
"They should stay away from casinos and places that allow gambling, in particular," he said.
The South Korean Embassy in Guatemala offers detailed tips on what to do when faced with a dangerous situation on its Web site, https://gtm.mofat.go.kr.