[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] A shaman who caused the death of a woman in her 20s by subjecting her to cruel acts such as setting her on fire, claiming that a ghost was attached to her body, was sentenced to prison again in the appellate court. The shaman reportedly claimed that the acts were part of an exorcism ritual.
On the 18th, the 1st Criminal Division of the Jeonju Branch of the Gwangju High Court announced that it dismissed the appeals of both the defendant and the prosecution in the appeal trial of shaman A, who was detained and prosecuted on charges of injury resulting in death, and upheld the original sentence of five years in prison.
A was indicted on charges of causing the death of B by performing shamanistic rituals over four days from June 15 last year at an apartment in Iksan City, Jeonbuk, and at the Geumgang Recreation Area in Seocheon County, Chungnam.
A tied up C’s hands and feet, claiming "a snake ghost is attached to the body," set fire to her body, and made her inhale the smoke from burning clothes. During this process, C suffered second-degree or higher burns on her face, chest, and arms, and cried out in pain, shouting "Stop it," but A continued the ritual.
Additionally, A stripped C of her clothes and applied 'Gyeongmyeonju-sa,' a substance used to write on talismans, all over her body. It was revealed that A even applied Gyeongmyeonju-sa on the blisters caused by the burns.
A did not provide food to C, saying "You must not give food or water to ghosts," and eventually B lost consciousness while complaining of pain. B died last June from dehydration and inhalation burns.
Standing in court, A claimed, "I regret it. However, I performed the exorcism ritual at the request of A’s father and others, and there was no cruel act."
In response, the first trial court said, "The defendant’s crime, which inflicted injury on the victim through a so-called exorcism ritual that cannot be considered treatment and led to death, is of a serious nature," and sentenced A to five years in prison.
When both A and the prosecution appealed on the grounds of excessive sentencing, the appellate court stated, "Considering that the defendant performed an irrational exorcism ritual despite being unable to treat the victim’s mental illness, causing the victim to painfully end her life, and that no agreement was reached with the victim’s family, the original sentence does not appear excessively harsh," and dismissed the appeals.
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