Teenager Given Probation for Threatening After Being Sued by Alumni

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] A teenager who threatened a classmate who had sued him was sentenced to a suspended prison term.

On the 31st, according to the legal community, the Criminal Division 12 of the Seoul Eastern District Court (Chief Judge Park Sang-gu) recently sentenced A (19), who was indicted for retaliatory threats under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, to six months in prison with a one-year suspension.

A, who was sued by the victim, a classmate, was tried on charges of threatening via messenger in May this year, saying, "I am mentally impaired, so even if I kill you, it will be a suspended sentence." Previously, A was reported to have been sued for defamation after posting slanderous comments on a post the victim had uploaded online.

The court stated, "Considering the circumstances and content of the message sent, it is clear that the purpose was to prevent the victim from proceeding with the lawsuit," and added, "The nature of the crime is not light." However, the sentence took into account that it was A's first offense, the crime was committed impulsively, and that an agreement was reached with the victim.