14-year-old girl arrested over death of middle school friend at father's hands

A Seoul court issued an arrest warrant Monday for a 14-year-old girl in connection with the death of her middle school friend at the hands of her father.

 
A 14-year-old girl (center) enters a court in Seoul on Oct. 30. 2017, to attend an arraignment after an arrest warrant was requested for her over the death of her middle school friend at the hands of her father. (Yonhap)
A 14-year-old girl (center) enters a court in Seoul on Oct. 30. 2017, to attend an arraignment after an arrest warrant was requested for her over the death of her middle school friend at the hands of her father. (Yonhap)

The Seoul Northern District Court granted the prosecution's request for a warrant to arrest the daughter of Lee Young-hak on charges of luring the victim to her home and helping her father dispose of the victim's body.

The court said the girl could attempt to flee or destroy evidence.

She was put into a detention center after the warrant was issued.

It was the second time an arrest warrant had been requested. The court had rejected the earlier request filed by police, saying an arrest warrant for a minor should not be issued except for an unavoidable case. Prosecutors sought a warrant again after a supplementary investigation.

The 35-year-old father, Lee, has already been arrested and has confessed to the killing.

Investigators found that Lee picked the victim to satisfy his sexual desire.

The case has shocked the nation as Lee became publicly known after a TV show in the 2000s portrayed him as a poor man suffering from a rare dental disease trying to eke out a living with a daughter who had same incurable illness.

Lee earned the nickname "molar father" after losing all but one molar while treating the disease.

However, it turned out that Lee had actually been living a luxurious life with donations he received from those who took pity on him since the airing of the TV show. It has also turned out that Lee has a criminal record of 18 previous convictions. BY THE YONHAP.

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