Child kidnappers to be monitored by electronic tracking anklet

By Kim Boram
SEOUL, Aug. 6 (Yonhap) -- Repeat offenders involved in the abduction of children
will be cuffed with electronic tracking anklets, a measure that has so far only
been enforced for repeat sex offenders, Justice Ministry officials said Thursday.
Effective Sunday, the new law makes ankle cuffs mandatory for those convicted of
abducting minors for a second time. Ministry officials said the prosecution can
ask for the device to be put on first-time offenders if they are considered
likely to repeat their crime.
South Korea began using the tracking anklets in September last year to curb
repeat offenses by sex criminals. The device alerts officials when offenders
violate their curfew or enter prohibited areas like school zones or the home of a
prior victim.
The maximum monitoring period is 10 years.
At present, only those convicted for a third time of rape and sexual assault
against women or children are forced to wear the anklets.
Once in place, the anklet must be worn at all times and unauthorized removal can
be punished by up to seven years in prison or a maximum 20 million won
(US$16,000) in fines.
The new law gained traction following the abduction of two teenage girls by a
neighbor early last year. The victims were murdered after their abductor
attempted to sexually assault them.
According to ministry data, 0.46 percent of the 219 criminals forced to wear the
anklets committed sex crimes again during the first six months since the system
was introduced. The rate is much lower than the previous 5.2 percent.
A total of 153 abduction cases occurred last year as of the end of October, about
half of which involved children, the data showed.
"Now we have another means to protect people from heavy crimes," an official at
the ministry said. "It is meaningful that we can expand the use of the tracking
system in response to social needs and public opinion."
brk@yna.co.kr
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