[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] A foreign teacher who was sentenced to prison in the first trial for sexually harassing a female student received a suspended sentence in the appeal trial.
The Jeju 1st Criminal Division of the Gwangju High Court (Chief Judge Wang Jeong-ok) announced on the 7th that it overturned the original sentence of 3 years in prison for A (39), an American teacher indicted for violating the Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes and Protection of Victims (forcible molestation of a minor under 13), and sentenced him to 2 years and 6 months in prison with a 5-year probation.
Additionally, the court reduced the employment restriction period for child and youth-related institutions and welfare facilities for the disabled from 10 years to 5 years.
The court explained the sentencing rationale, stating, "Considering that the degree of molestation committed by the defendant was relatively minor, and that some victims submitted petitions during the appeal trial requesting leniency for the defendant, the original sentence was deemed excessively harsh and unfair."
Earlier, A was prosecuted for forcibly molesting four victims under the age of 13 on nine occasions, including stroking the thigh of student B (12), who was asking him a math question, in a classroom at an international school in Seogwipo City, Jeju, where he worked, around April last year.
The first trial court sentenced A to 3 years in prison, stating that "the circumstances, content, and methods of each act of forcibly molesting the student were serious."
A appealed, arguing that the original sentence was too harsh and unfair.
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