"The destination is different"... Japanese man in his 20s assaults taxi driver without paying fare, leaves Korea the day after police questioning

[Financial News] A Japanese man assaulted a taxi driver in Seoul's Myeong-dong and refused to pay the fare. He was apprehended by police.
According to Yonhap News Agency and other outlets on the 8th, Seoul Namdaemun Police Station arrested a Japanese man in his 20s, identified as Mr. A, on the spot on the 5th on suspicion of assault.
Mr. A is accused of assaulting a taxi driver in his 50s, identified as Mr. B, near Myeong-dong Station at around 10 p.m. on the 5th.
At the time, Mr. A allegedly claimed that Mr. B had dropped him off at a place other than his intended destination and therefore refused to pay the fare.
When Mr. B continued to demand payment, Mr. A reportedly kicked him and then fled the scene.
Police, responding to a report from a nearby shop owner, found Mr. A in the vicinity and arrested him at the scene before questioning him.
After being released following the investigation, Mr. A departed Korea on a scheduled flight to Japan on the morning of the 6th.
Police have determined that the allegations against Mr. A do not meet the criteria for an emergency travel ban and plan to continue the investigation without taking him into custody.
Investigators may ask the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to impose an exit ban on Korean nationals and a travel suspension on foreign nationals. However, there must be reasonable grounds to suspect that the person has committed an offense punishable by death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for at least three years. In urgent situations, authorities may also impose an emergency exit ban or travel suspension.
newssu@fnnews.com Reporter Kim Soo-yeon Reporter