Submission of Appeal to Court
Sentenced to 2 Years Imprisonment in First Trial
Police Investigating Murder and Attempted Murder Charges
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Taxi driver Choi Mo (31), who loudly said, "(Tell them to call 119. I will take responsibility if he dies)." When a minor collision occurred, he blocked an ambulance transporting an emergency patient to the hospital. In his closing argument, he also said, "I am sincerely sorry," but ultimately acted differently from his words of "I will take responsibility" and "I am sincerely sorry."
According to the court on the 25th, taxi driver Choi, who was sentenced to two years in prison in the first trial, filed an appeal with the Seoul Eastern District Court on the 23rd.
Choi's side sought leniency during the trial. The defense attorney argued in the closing statement, "As this accident became a social issue, there are exaggerated aspects that are different from the facts about the defendant," and "The defendant was aware that there was an actual patient and did not deliberately act that way at all."
The prosecution opposed, stating that Choi did not show an attitude of remorse. At the sentencing hearing, the prosecution requested seven years in prison, saying, "The defendant initially denied all charges during the prosecution investigation but confessed by submitting a handwritten statement as the investigation continued. However, in court, he showed an attitude suggesting he was not at fault for some of the charges," and pointed out, "It is doubtful whether he is truly remorseful."
On June 8, near Godeok Station on Seoul Subway Line 5 in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, Choi was criticized after it was revealed that he blocked an ambulance for about 10 minutes, saying "Handle the accident first," after a minor collision with the ambulance. This 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. He attempted to obtain settlement money or insurance benefits 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 minor collisions.
Earlier, on the 21st, Judge Lee Yoo-young of the Criminal Division 3 at the Seoul Eastern District Court sentenced Choi to two years in prison in a sentencing hearing for charges including special assault, fraud, and obstruction of business.
The judge explained the sentencing reason, saying, "Intentionally causing a collision against a private ambulance that could carry an emergency patient and, after confirming that a patient was on board, demanding accident handling and obstructing the transport work is blameworthy considering the risk involved."
However, the judge also 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 crime." The bereaved family of the deceased patient filed an additional complaint against Choi in July for charges including murder and attempted murder, and the police are currently investigating whether to apply these charges.
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