S. Korea to indict U.S. soldier accused of stabbing locals: prosecutor

By Sam Kim
SEOUL, April 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will prosecute a U.S. soldier accused of
stabbing three people, including a South Korean Air Force captain, last month
near a U.S. air base south of Seoul, a prosecutor said Thursday.
"Indictment is imminent, possibly next week," said Lee Young-sang, a prosecutor
at the Ministry of Justice, adding he notified the United States Forces Korea
(USFK) of the plan early this week.
About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea as a deterrent against
North Korea -- a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in a truce rather
than a peace treaty.
Under the status-of-forces agreement between Seoul and Washington, South Korea
has the right to choose to try U.S. soldiers accused of committing crimes while
off-duty.
The March 6 incident, in which a 37-year-old U.S. specialist allegedly stabbed a
local bar worker and two South Korean men who came to her assistance, is one of
an increasing number of cases involving American troops after the USFK relaxed
its curfew from 1:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. last year.
"The number of cases of sexual assault, aggravated assault, assault and
disorderly conduct has increased since last August when the relaxed curfew was
put into effect," Gen. Walter Sharp said last week, ordering a USFK-wide
"stand-down" on April 25.
"This is unacceptable, and we must now act to reverse the trend," Sharp said in
an April 1 notice. The USFK did not release exact figures concerning the crimes.
The midnight stabbing incident near Osan Air Base, 60 kilometers south of Seoul,
is "related only from the standpoint that it would be one incident in the overall
trend," USFK spokesman Dave Palmer said.
A South Korean military police official confirmed the allegation that U.S.
Specialist Abdelkader Raoufi of the 2nd Infantry Division stabbed South Korean
Air Force Captain Choi Jae-hwi multiple times in the incident that took place at
around 1:00 a.m.
Another man, only identified by his surname Lee, joined Choi to help the
27-year-old female bar employee but was also severely stabbed, the investigator
said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The woman, whose name has not been disclosed, underwent intensive care and has
recovered since, Lee said, adding Raoufi apparently had a romantic interest in
her but was rejected.
"Fortunately, none of the victims were fatally wounded. They have mostly
recovered," Lee said.
The U.S. commander said in his "Sharp Point" message that he would consider
reversing the curfew if crimes kept increasing.
"Some of the more serious crimes had actually remained fairly stable, sexual
assault had remained fairly stable. It had not increased," Palmer said.
"Soldiers fighting with each other, soldiers fighting with other citizens, that
kind of thing Sharp wanted to take action against, and get the situation under
control," he said.
The USFK will implement a 10:00 p.m. curfew on Friday, April 24, and conduct a
four-hour-long formation the following morning for training on military
discipline, according to Sharp's notice.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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