Soldier in South Korea denies stealing phone in rape case

[unhappycamper]

Soldier in South Korea denies stealing phone in rape case
By Teri Weaver and Hwang Hae-rym, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, December 5, 2008

SEOUL — A 2nd Infantry Division soldier tried to convince a South Korean judge Wednesday that he did not steal a woman’s cell phone before raping her in a Dongducheon alley last summer, according to testimony in Seoul Central District Court.

The robbery accusation, if proven, could mean considerably more punishment for Sgt. Jonathan Kim, who admitted last month to the rape of the 22-year-old South Korean woman.

With the rape charge, Kim, a Korean-American and a U.S. soldier, faces a maximum of three years in South Korean prison, according to his lawyer, Kim Jong-pyo. A conviction of rape and robbery could bring as much as 10 years in prison, his lawyer said after the morning’s proceedings.

During the trial hearing, the woman testified that Kim took the phone before beating her and raping her in the alley. She said Kim was trying to prevent her from calling the police for help.

"He put his hand over my mouth and dragged me to the alley," the woman said, through the court’s interpreter.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=59212