SEOUL – A man in his 80s who was suspected of rape was not arrested by local police and left unsupervised, with the authorities later citing that he is very old and not a flight risk.

The suspect, whose identity was withheld by the police, is accused of attacking a woman in her 80s at her apartment in Nonsan, in South Chungcheong province, on June 2.

The victim’s son saw the attack and overpowered the suspect, turning him over to the police, who were called to the scene.

Despite apprehending the suspect, police did not arrest him, and sent him home after questioning him at the scene. Taking into consideration the suspect’s age and that his place of residence was known to the authorities, officials decided that he posed no threat of fleeing.

South Korean law states that a person caught in the act of a crime can be arrested by anyone – including those who are not officers of the law – without a warrant.

The law also states that police can arrest a suspect without a warrant if there is probable cause to believe that he has committed a crime punishable by at least three years in prison.

Police said the preliminary measures were taken in consideration of the suspect’s age.

They asked prosecutors to charge the man with rape causing injury, but did not detain him or take other measures other than to warn him not to approach the victim.

“(The suspect) is still roaming free about the neighbourhood. He is free, while my mother is practically imprisoned,” the victim’s son said. THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIAN NEWS NETWORK