2 Koreans charged; deny rape took place in motel

RAPE CHARGES were filed yesterday against the two South Koreans accused of bringing two tipsy female  Japanese tourists  to a motel in Lapu-Lapu City last Saturday morning.

One of the two women subscribed her affidavit before flying back  to Japan yesterday.

The two suspects,  34-year-old Jong Duk Lee and 21-year-old Carl Park, were  presented to the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office where their lawyer denied that a rape occured.

Officials from both the Japanese and Korean consulate have  inquired about the case, said SPO2 Roel Leyson of the Lapu-Lapu City police.

Park is the son of a hotel owner  in Lapu-Lapu City.

Lee who refused to grant an interview, held up a picture of him  with Justice Secretary Leila Delima published in Cebu Daily News.

The lawyer of the two men, Benjamin Negapatan, said  no rape  occurred and that the sexual encounter  was “consensual”. He said all four used only one room.

Negapatan said he will wait first for the documents presented by the police before responding.

The complainant arrived in Cebu last June 21 to visit her 21-year-old Japanese friend who was taking  English language classes here.

CIDG-7 operatives led by Chief Insp. Fermin Armendarez III arrested Park last Saturday morning at his residence in Sunny Hills, Cebu City while Lee was arrested at CIDG-7 office after he visited Park later that afternoon.

Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, Lapu-Lapu City police chief, said  that while the incident sparked tension between the Japanese and Korean communities, it won’t affect tourism in the city.

Bed sheets with blood stains were recovered  in the motel while a room boy who was present at the time the guests checked in was tapped as a witness.

The women, who struck up an acquaintance with the Koreans,  said they were  first brought to barangay Busay and then to a resto bar in Mango Square for drinks.

The women said they were drunk when they checked into the motel.

But Negapatan said his clients insist the women were not drunk  and agreed to have sex with them.

The  21-year old complainant showed bruises in her hands as proof that she was forced to have sex. Her  companion said she would  pursue her case against the Koreans.

Negapatan said he would ask the court to let his clients post bail.

The two Koreans will undergo a medical check-up before they are transferred to the Lapu-Lapu City Jail.

Akira Oka, former chairman and now consultant of the Japanese community in Cebu, expressed  shock over the incident but said they  are not blaming anyone for it at this stage.

He said the Korean community should not take the incident against the Japanese community in Cebu.

“I believe the court will make a fair decision not related to nationality,” Oka said.

“In the past, very long time ago, Korea was under Japan. But today, we no longer see it that way. All I can say is that when you are in a foreign country, you have to take care of yourself. protect yourself,” he added. /Correspondents  Chito O. Aragon, Carine M. Asutilla  and Norman V. Mendoza