Russian Whodunit`s Over Without Arrest?

A couple of days ago, a Russian was shot to death in an execution style in Busan. But the authorities have not secured a clue about the suspect. Thus, the whole investigation has come to a standstill.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) reportedly tipped off the Yeongdo Police Department (YPD) about the organized gangs involved. According the NIS, the conflict between Yokurt Family and its rival gang would probably have sparked the killing. The NIS and the YPD began to investigate this murder case together from yesterday. As first step, they asked the Interpol to conduct background checks on all three identified Russians, or two victims and a suspect nabbed on the crime scene.

The two victims, however, have refused to cooperate with the authorities seemingly out of fear. Thus, the YPD is providing a 24-hour translation service to them to induce cooperation.

In the meanwhile, the authorities drew up a composite sketch of the main suspect, based on the description of the car rental service owner, and distributed 4,000 copies of it nationwide. But the rental service employee just photocopied the seamen`s book without identifying the photo with the person who came to the office for renting the car used in the crime. Thus, it is not sure whether the seaman`s book really belongs to the murder suspect.

The Russians involved have used nine cell phone numbers, staying in South Korea. Thus, the authorities have requested the cell phone companies to provide their call logs, which are expected today. The call logs, once provided, hopefully help the authorities track down the suspect.

The authorities also suspect that South Korean gangsters helped the Russian suspects commit the crime. First, one of the suspects in custody reportedly shared an office with a brother of a South Korean gang boss. Thus, the YPD is conducting another investigation into that direction.

Second, it would be impossible for the suspect, as a foreigner, to rent a car and run away from the crime scene without any help from a South Korean. Therefore, it strongly believes that some South Korean gang has got involved.

On Saturday at the investigation headquarters set up in the YPD office, authorities from various organizations had a joint meeting before launching a joint probe. During the meeting, the customs officials presented its search results on the anchoring Russian ships, and the immigration office reported its background checks on Russian crewmen onboard.

It is, however, impossible to exclude the possibility that the suspect might have smuggled out of South Korea. Since April 17, when the murder took place, seven Russian ships and 250 Russian sailors have left. Thus, the suspect might have fled overseas onboard one of those ships.

silent@donga.com