Student in coma after comedian's alleged robbery bid

By Lee Jin-a

A comedian has been booked for an alleged attempted robbery that left a female college student in coma for a month, police said.

They said the comedian threatened the woman, surnamed Kim, with a knife in downtown Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, on June 5. She managed to escape but collapsed soon after arriving home. She has Moyamoya disease, a rare brain blood vessel disorder, and the knife threat is believed to have caused her collapse.

Police used CCTV footage and other evidence to arrest the man, who was not named, after a two-day hunt.

Police said the comedian, who made his debut in 2011 but still remains obscure, wanted money from the student because he was in financial difficulties. They said a mortgage fraud some years ago robbed the man of his life savings. He has been living on borrowed money from his ex-girlfriend and acquaintances.

Police said the suspect has not performed as a comedian for years.