■SOUTH KOREA
Man kills boy over license
A motorist who hit and slightly injured an 11-year-old boy has admitted later murdering the child in an attempt to cover up driving offenses, reports said yesterday. The 48-year-old hit the child while under the influence of alcohol and while he was disqualified from driving. He took the boy to a small hospital but was referred to a larger facility. Instead of visiting the larger hospital, the man drove to an isolated spot in Damyang Country 220km south of Seoul and shot the boy four times with a powerful air rifle, several newspapers reported. The interior decorator, arrested after a tip-off, reportedly told police he killed the boy to avoid a further driving ban. He was to get his license back in September.
■CHINA
Assaulted waitress freed
A waitress who killed a government official when he assaulted her was set free yesterday, ending a case that sparked online debate over widespread abuse of power. Deng Yujiao (鄧玉嬌) was originally detained on suspicion of murder but was found guilty of the lesser charge of causing injury with intent, Caijing.com said. Deng stabbed township official Deng Guida (鄧貴大) to death at a bathhouse on May 10 in Hubei Province when he assaulted her after she refused to provide “special services” — slang for sex. Deng Yujiao’s “mood disorder” limited her criminal responsibility, Caijing said, citing the court decision.
■PHILIPPINES
Manila to keep jewelry
The justice secretary yesterday said jewelry worth US$310 million confiscated from former first lady Imelda Marcos would remain under lock and key in the government’s control. Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera told reporters the collection was considered part of the Marcos family’s stolen wealth and remained the subject of a pending civil forfeiture case. Devanadera’s predecessor, Raul Gonzalez, issued a legal opinion in which he said that Imelda evidently “remains to be the legitimate owner of the prized jewelleries.” It was not clear why Gonzalez, who was earlier removed from the justice department after a five-year stint, issued the legal opinion.
■AUSTRALIA
Arrests made in gang death
Three people were arrested yesterday over the murder of Melbourne gangland figure Desmond “Tuppence” Moran, who was shot multiple times in a suburban cafe, police said. A 43-year-old man is expected to be charged with murder and two women, aged 64 and 45, will be charged as accessories, police said, after Monday’s execution-style killing. Media reports said one of the arrested women was Moran’s sister-in-law Judy.
■NETHERLANDS
ICC approves Bemba trial
The International Criminal Court (ICC) ruled on Monday that former Democratic Republic of Congo vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba will stand trial on five charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. A pre-trial panel of judges “found that there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo is criminally responsible” for murder, rape and pillaging, said a court statement. They “referred the case for trial” on three counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity for atrocities allegedly committed in the Central African Republic from October 2002 to March 2003 by militia commanded by Bemba.
■FRANCE
Scientology faces ban
The prosecutor in a trial involving the Church of Scientology has asked that the group be banned and handed a hefty fine if convicted on fraud and other charges. The prosecutor’s office has asked that fines of 2 million euros (US$2.77 million) be levied against the group and its French bookstore if the two entities are found guilty on charges of organized fraud and illegal pharmaceutical activity. Such fines are exceptionally high by French standards.
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