[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] A man in his 60s who was prosecuted for uttering insulting words to himself has been sentenced to a fine in the appellate court.
The Criminal Appeals Division 3 of Suwon District Court (Presiding Judge Heo Yoon) announced on the 25th that A (61), who was charged with insult, was sentenced to a fine of 200,000 won as in the original trial, and the execution of the sentence was suspended for one year.
The court pointed out, "Publicity in the crime of insult means a state in which an unspecified or multiple people can recognize it," and "At the time the defendant made the statement, there were management office employees at the scene, and it cannot be concluded that there was no possibility of transmission, so publicity is sufficient."
It also ruled, "Insult is an abstract judgment or expression of contempt that can lower social evaluation," and "The defendant's expression is sufficient to be considered insulting language."
A is accused of muttering "A mad dog is best treated with a club" in February last year while working at an apartment management office in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, after refusing a resident B's request for information disclosure related to apartment management in the presence of four employees.
Earlier, the first trial court sentenced A to a fine of 200,000 won. However, A's side appealed, arguing that the statement lacked publicity and did not constitute insult under the crime of insult.
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