Court Sentences ‘Apgujeong Rolls-Royce Man’ to 20 Years for Hit-and-Run Manslaughter

Shin, known as the so-called 'Rolls-Royce Man,' who drove a Rolls-Royce vehicle under the influence of drugs and fatally struck a woman in her 20s in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, was sentenced to a heavy prison term in the first trial.

Shin Mo, known as the 'Apgujeong Rolls-Royce Man,' is accused of causing an accident while driving under the influence of drugs, injuring a pedestrian. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 24th, Judge Choi Min-hye of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 26 sentenced Shin to 20 years in prison on charges including hit-and-run causing death under the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

Judge Choi stated, “The defendant disputes the intent to flee after the accident, but according to Supreme Court precedents, if a driver recognizes that they have caused injury or death under the Road Traffic Act but leaves the scene without stopping to take protective measures for the victim, the intent to flee is acknowledged.”

Judge Choi added, "The defendant ignored medical advice not to drive and caused the accident, then left the scene but returned and was arrested in flagrante delicto. The defendant’s claim through counsel that the departure from the scene lasted only about three minutes and was to retrieve his phone is not credible, given that another citizen called 119 (emergency services)."

Judge Choi also noted, "Even when arrested in flagrante delicto, the defendant exhibited abnormal behavior such as smiling while looking at the victim. The victim died after three months, making it difficult to measure the family's loss, but the defendant showed no remorse and was preoccupied with destroying evidence. The victim’s family is pleading for severe punishment," explaining the sentencing rationale.

Earlier, at the sentencing hearing last month, the prosecution requested the court to sentence Shin to 20 years in prison, stating, “The victim’s family, grieving the senseless death of a 27-year-old young woman, demands severe punishment.”

Shin was arrested and indicted on charges of driving a Rolls-Royce vehicle on the evening of August 2 last year in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, crashing onto the sidewalk, injuring a woman in her 20s, and fleeing without providing aid. Investigations revealed that Shin had been administered psychotropic drugs at a nearby plastic surgery clinic before driving.

The victim sustained serious injuries to the head and abdomen, requiring 24 weeks of medical treatment. Despite undergoing surgery, the victim ultimately passed away. Consequently, the prosecution changed Shin’s charge from hit-and-run causing injury to hit-and-run causing death.

On the day of sentencing, Kwon Na-won, the legal representative of the victim’s family, stated, “The police are still investigating the charge of aiding and abetting drugged driving and professional negligence causing death against Dr. Yeom, who administered the drugs to Shin, which has not been fully reflected in the trial process. If these aspects are further considered and additional indictments against Shin or Yeom are made, higher sentences may be imposed.”