Taxi Driver Who Said 'I Will Take Responsibility' Appeals 2-Year Prison Sentence in First Trial

Taxi Driver Choi Files Appeal in Court on 23rd
Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison in First Trial

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] A taxi driver who blocked an ambulance transporting an emergency patient to the hospital has filed an appeal.

According to the court on the 23rd, the lawyer representing taxi driver Choi Mo (31) submitted an appeal to the Seoul Eastern District Court on the same day.

Earlier, on the 21st, Judge Lee Yoo-young of the Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul Eastern District Court sentenced Choi, who was indicted on charges including special assault, fraud, and obstruction of business, to two years in prison.

The judge stated, "The defendant deliberately caused accidents over a long period or pretended as if hospitalization or outpatient treatment was necessary to commit each crime. Considering the duration and method of the crimes, the nature of the offenses is very serious," adding, "Intentionally causing a collision with a private ambulance carrying an emergency patient and, after confirming that a patient was on board, demanding accident processing and obstructing the transport work is blameworthy given the risk involved."

However, the judge explained, "The defendant was not indicted on the grounds that there is a causal relationship between the death of the patient in the ambulance and the defendant's crimes." The police are currently investigating whether to apply murder charges.

On June 8, near Godeok Station on Subway Line 5 in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, Choi caused a collision with an ambulance and blocked it for about 10 minutes, saying, "Handle the accident first," and "I will take responsibility," drawing public criticism. The ambulance was carrying a 79-year-old stage 4 lung cancer patient who was experiencing breathing difficulties. The patient was transferred to the hospital by another ambulance but ultimately passed away around 9 p.m. that day.

Choi was also indicted for intentionally causing an accident against a private ambulance in July 2017. It was investigated that Choi attempted to obtain settlement money or insurance benefits from this accident but failed. From 2015 to 2019, while working as a driver for charter buses and company taxis, he was also charged with collecting about 20 million won in settlement money and medical expenses due to collisions.