"돈 안 내면 쏴버린다!" "유치장 시원하네"..파리 뒤흔든 14세, '촉법소년'? / SBS / AFTER 8 SPECIAL / 권영인 파리 특파원

1. The 14-Year-Old Boy Who Turned Paris's Famous Saint-Martin Upside Down The boy you see right now is Hamza. He indiscriminately shoots water guns at people passing by on bicycles and even plays pranks by shooting at police officers. He also runs out onto the road, blocks passing cars, and causes a scene. He even pushes a woman sitting by the water's edge, causing her to fall in. This location is the Canal Saint-Martin, a fairly famous tourist spot in Paris. As Paris suffered from a heatwave exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, the city opened the Canal Saint-Martin for swimming. Consequently, people flocked from all directions, and the boy named Hamza was playing these pranks on them and causing discomfort there. Not content with causing trouble and making people uncomfortable, he even demanded a toll of 2 euros from people. If they didn't pay, he would shoot them with his water gun again; from the perspective of those being subjected to this, he was doing things that could never be a pleasant experience. He gained increasing fame on social media, and people even gave him the nickname "La Douane." "La Douane" means "customs" in French. It was a nickname given to him because he was extorting tolls. Hamza, who was active on TikTok and Instagram, seemed to crave more fame and continued to cause inconvenience to people. He was eventually caught by the police, but footage of him escaping from the police car and swimming through a canal became widely known. Paris became even more chaotic because of Hamza. News stations even connected with Saint-Martin live to broadcast real-time updates. Articles poured out from various media outlets. Furthermore, the French, who love debate, even aired a program where experts gathered to discuss what to do about the boy. As Hamza was introduced beyond France to Germany, the UK, and Switzerland, "Saint-Martin La Douane" became a hot figure in Europe. 2. "The detention cell is cool~" He even made jokes mocking the police. La Douane from France was eventually locked up in a police detention cell on June 27. He was charged with offenses such as damaging restaurant equipment, but was released within a day. He then went to the Canal Saint-Martin, stood in front of news cameras, and even made a mocking joke, saying, "The detention cell was cool because it had air conditioning." Paris became even more chaotic. There was heated debate and bickering, ranging from the argument that releasing a 14-year-old was only natural to question how such a child could be released. While he continued to be in the spotlight, he was arrested by the police again. This time, he was charged with participating in cell phone theft with several others. He was arrested on July 1st, but was released that same day due to insufficient evidence. 3. Issues Spread to Immigrants and Racism People began searching for Hamza's parents. They questioned why they were simply leaving a child who was causing so much discomfort and attracting so much attention alone. Eventually, his parents stepped forward. In media interviews, Hamza's parents stated that Hamza had done nothing wrong and had not harmed anyone. They defended him, claiming that shooting water guns was merely a children's prank. However, the problem had already escalated. Hamza, from an Algerian immigrant family, has become entangled in the "immigrant and racism" frame, which is one of the most explosive triggers in France. The right wing has blamed the 14-year-old boy's misbehavior on the failure of immigration policy. They even went so far as to demand that the child allowance provided to Hamza's parents be revoked and that they be held liable for compensation. Whenever Hamza appears on social media, racist remarks flood the comments section. The left wing argues that we should understand the characteristics of adolescence and be cautious about focusing solely on punishment. They also claim that framing this as a matter of racism or immigration policy is excessive. Ultimately, early this month, the personal attacks against Hamza became so severe that his parents filed a criminal complaint with the police. 4. Is 14-Year-Old Hamza a "Juvenile Offender"? You may have one question here. You might be wondering whether 14-year-old Hamza is a juvenile offender in France. To start with the conclusion, no. In Korea, individuals under the age of 14 are classified as juvenile offenders. He does not face criminal punishment, nor does he have a criminal record. In France, the age limit is under 13. Since Hamza is 14, he is subject to punishment. However, unlike adults, he goes through a juvenile court. While he is punished, he undergoes significant educational and reflective measures. Furthermore, it is said that the process of being referred to trial takes longer than in a regular court. Even if Hamza is found guilty and punished, it appears it will take a considerable amount of time. The right wing is taking issue with this, arguing that child crimes must be dealt wi...