Prosecution Requests Trial Postponement for 'Baksa Bang Gongbeom'... Strategy to Apply Crime Syndicate Organization Charges

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] It has been confirmed that the prosecution requested the court to postpone the trial two days before the second trial of Han Mo (27), an accomplice of Cho Ju-bin (24, in custody), the operator of the 'Doctor's Room.' This is interpreted as a strategy to apply the crime of organizing a criminal group for additional indictment and then lead to a consolidated trial with the existing case.

According to the court on the 27th, the prosecution submitted a request to change the trial date to the Criminal Division 31 of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge Seongpil Jo) on the 25th, two days before Han's second trial, who was indicted in custody on charges including rape under the Youth Protection Act.

The trial date, which was scheduled for that morning, was not changed. The court is expected to proceed with the trial as originally planned but listen to the prosecution's reason for the postponement request and decide whether to renew the trial procedure.

At Han's first trial held on the 29th of last month, the prosecution requested, "An independent investigation on the defendant is ongoing," and "Considering that the decision on indictment will be made in about a month, please proceed with the trial."

This indicated the intention to additionally indict Han by applying the crime of organizing a criminal group. The prosecution has been considering applying the crime of organizing a criminal group, viewing Cho, Han, and other accomplices as an 'organic coalition' that divided four roles: ▲searching and luring victims ▲producing sexual exploitation materials ▲distributing sexual exploitation materials ▲withdrawing profits from sexual exploitation.

The prosecution's request to change the trial date also seems related to this. In particular, on the same day the prosecution submitted the request for change, the court issued arrest warrants for two paid members of the Doctor's Room to whom the crime of organizing a criminal group was applied.

This significantly increases the likelihood that the prosecution will additionally apply the crime of organizing a criminal group to Cho, Han, and other accomplices in the future. Initially, whether arrest warrants would be issued for them was widely analyzed as a gauge for applying the crime of organizing a criminal group to Cho, Han, and other accomplices.

Accordingly, the prosecution is expected to soon additionally indict Han on charges of organizing a criminal group and request consolidation with the existing case.

Previously, Han was indicted in custody on charges of attempting to sexually assault child and adolescent victims under Cho's instructions. He is also accused of sexually abusing victims by forcing them to perform obscene acts, filming them on video, and sending the footage to Cho to post in the 'Doctor's Room.'