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| Park Sung-jin, a senior prosecutor, speaks to reporters at the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office in Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap |
By Jung Min-ho
Lee Young-hak, who was arrested last month for allegedly killing a 14-year-old girl, has been indicted on murder and rape charges, the prosecution said Wednesday.
The Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office said the 35-year-old was indicted on charges of raping the daughter of a friend of his while she was asleep and strangling her to death, among other charges.
If he is found guilty, he could be sentenced to life in prison.
According to the prosecution, his deviant sexual desires, including pedophilia, sadism and voyeurism, were a big part of his criminal motive.
Lee lured the girl to his house in Seoul by using his daughter, who left after giving the victim a drink that had powdered sleeping pills in it.
While his daughter was away, Lee raped and sexually assaulted the victim with sex toys.
When she woke up, he strangled her to death with a tie and a towel, and with his daughter, buried her body on a hill in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province.
Park Sung-jin, a senior prosecutor, told reporters that investigators found many porn files on his phone and computer that suggest his abnormal sexual desires.
It is likely that Lee did not lure the victim to his house to kill her, Park noted. "But we believe he did not plan to let her go after the crime, either. He wanted to keep her in his control for a while by using his daughter," the prosecutor said.
Through many tests, the prosecution also found that Lee's IQ is lower than average, but he did not have any major issues in carrying out his daily activities.
The death of his 31-year-old wife, who committed suicide in September, was another factor that triggered him to find someone else to satisfy his sexual desires, the prosecution said.
His wife died after filing a complaint with police on Sept. 1 against Lee's stepfather, accusing him of sexually assaulting her for eight years. His stepfather also killed himself last week.
Lee and his daughter became famous in 2006 when it was aired that they suffer from a rare disease known as gigantiform cementoma, which involves dental tumors growing on the jaw. Until recently, he raised donations through TV programs and social media.
The prosecution found that he used much of the money to buy expensive cars, high-class audio systems and other luxury items.
His friend, surnamed Park, who helped him move and bury the body, has also been indicted.
The prosecution will soon indict his daughter, who is under arrest.
Investigators will continue to look into other suspicions surrounding his family, including the deaths of his wife and stepfather as well as Lee's alleged prostitution business.
