By Na Jeong-ju
The prosecution indicted an American soldier Thursday on charges of raping a young Korean woman last month near his unit north of Seoul.
The U.S. military transferred him to South Korean investigators after the court issued an arrest warrant for the 21-year-old serviceman, identified as “K.”
He was immediately taken to a detention center and will remain in custody during trial, prosecutors said.
The Army private, assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division, allegedly raped an 18-year-old Korean woman at her home in Dongducheon around 4 a.m. on Sept. 24 and ran away. She was watching TV alone when he broke into her apartment.
Investigators identified the soldier through a surveillance camera installed near the apartment block and informed the U.S. military.
During questioning, he said he couldn’t remember what happened exactly because he was drunk, according to South Korean police.
Under the Status of Forces Agreement signed between Seoul and Washington, Korea has the right of trial for a crime committed by an American soldier off duty.
Civic groups have protested near the base in Dongducheon, calling for harsh punishment of the solider and stern handling of crimes committed by U.S. servicemen.