Middle school dropouts busted for molestation, sexual assault

Teenagers who dropped out of middle school have been arrested on the charge of sexually molesting and assaulting their friend.

The Seocho Police Station in southern Seoul Friday sought arrest warrants for three 15-year-old girls on charges of sexually molesting, illegally confining and injuring another girl. Police also booked without detention two boys who had dropped out of high school who were at the scene of the crime though not directly involved.

Police said the suspects allegedly tied up another 15-year-old girl and assaulted her for two hours. The girls are known to have taken the victim`s top off and molested her before cutting her hair with scissors. In addition, they allegedly used burning cigarettes to burn their victim and recorded the scene with a mobile phone.

The victim escaped after asking her tormentors to let her use the bathroom. She ran to a neighbor, who then called the police. The gang of five girls went out to capture her but were arrested by police on the spot.

According to police, the suspects say they assaulted the victim because she made negative comments on their sex lives.

iamsam@donga.com