That was the news from Itaewon over the weekend.

A foreign illegal immigrant has been arrested for enticing women met at the central Seoul district of Itaewon and then sexually assaulting, photographing, and videotaping them. The total number of women victims exceeds 20 and includes middle school students.

The Yongsan Police Department announced on the 20th that M, a 39-year old Bangladeshi, has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting the women after they drank soft drinks laced with drugs.

According to police, on the 13th in Itaewon M met L, a 15-year old middle school student caught in the rain, and told her that, “I am a tourist who can speak English, but I want to learn Korean.” After gaining her trust by treating her to a meal, he handed her a soft drink with drugs inside. M took her to his home once she had become unable to walk and was losing consciousness, then photographed and videotaped her after sexually assaulting her.

Police discovered videos and photos of L and another middle school student in M’s home, and have confirmed that there are at least 20 other victims. It has been discovered that M would wear gold necklaces and bracelets, dress cleanly, and walk Itaewon Street to meet women walking by themselves.

M entered the country as an illegal immigrant in 2003, and was arrested in 2004 on suspicion of unlawful imprisonment but released without charge. Police said that, “L does not remember the situation clearly owing to the drugs she consumed. It is quite serious that the injured women are unable to remember what happened.” Investigators are continuing their work and believe that M made illegal communications of his videotapes at telephone rooms and other places.

I expect there will be questions over why he was not deported in 2004. And whoever supplied him with his drugs should be facing the severest punishments the law can offer.