Man Sets Gaming Center On Fire, Dies In The Flames
A man, identified as a Chinese national, set fire to a gaming establishment in Yeongnam-gun, Jeolla-do, South Korea, on September 1, KST.
According to the Korean police, the suspect, a man in his 60s, appeared to have locked the entrance of the establishment, sprayed flammables inside, and set the gaming center on fire. Authorities are not pursuing a criminal charge against the suspect since he perished in the very flames he set ablaze.
The fire also critically injured four other innocents, and inflicted a damage of ₩12.4 million KRW (about $9,250 USD) on the establishment.
Though the motive of the crime is still unconfirmed, witness testimonies hinted that the man was gambling at the gaming center. According to eyewitnesses, he frequently visited the facility and on the day of the incident, “caused disturbance after losing money.” Investigations are still underway.
If the testimonies turn out to be accurate, then the gaming facility might face legal trouble. South Korea has banned gambling as non-casino establishments, including what are legally called the “pseuo-casino operations” which refers to the de-facto casino businesses offering cash or other benefits as a reward in a game.
Adult-only gaming facilities like this one in Yeongnam are allowed to distribute only small amounts of gift certificates as prizes. But with the witness statements and the suspect’s actions combined, implications are that this particular facility might have run an illegal gambling operations. If it is found to be the case, then the operators of the gaming center could face criminal punishment.
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