LEAD) Child kidnappers to be monitored by electronic tracking anklet

(ATTN: UPDATES with stats in paras 8-10)
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, only one of the 407 ex-convicts forced to wear the
anklet committed a repeat sex crime since the system was introduced. The rate is
much lower than the previous 5.2 percent. The rate of repeat kidnapping is 4
percent.
The number of cases involving child kidnapping reached 299 in 2008, increasing
from 223 in 2006 and 232 in 2007.
The ministry estimates that some 200 or 300 kidnappers will wear the tracking
cuff per year.
"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
(END)