Prosecutors' probe looks at link between alcohol, crime
One in five suspects detained for crimes such as theft, assault, and gambling were found to have committed the crime after drinking alcohol.
A crime analysis released by the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office showed that 19.8 percent of 829,478 suspects surveyed this year committed a crime after becoming intoxicated.
In particular, 29.1 percent of 13,134 suspects detained for crimes such as murder, theft, arson, and rape committed such crimes while inebriated. For suspects of assault, blackmail, and fraud, 41.1 percent of 140,301 such crimes were committed after drinking.
In addition, of an additional 408,817 repeat offenders surveyed, 30.7 percent were found to have committed their second crime while intoxicated. Particularly, 37.2 percent of 7,605 brutal second crimes were committed by members of this group post drinking.
If there is a direct connection, it is uncertain whether the crimes were committed as a result of the inebriation, or whether the suspects drank before going out to commit a crime, in order to lower inhibitions, for example. Upon releasing the results of the survey, the prosecutors' office said that drinking and crime are closely related.
