Electronic Monitoring Device Attachment Ordered for 30 Years
Accomplices Sentenced to 7-15 Years in Prison
Fraud Accomplices Also Receive Prison Sentences
[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Jo Joo-bin (24), the operator of the Telegram 'Baksa-bang' that distributed sexual exploitation materials, was sentenced to 40 years in prison. This is the first court ruling in this case, which changed the overall perception of digital sex crimes in our society, with dozens of female victims including minors.
The Criminal Division 30 of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge Lee Hyun-woo) sentenced Jo, who was detained and indicted on charges including production and distribution of obscene materials under the Child and Youth Sexual Protection Act, to 40 years in prison and ordered him to wear an electronic monitoring device (electronic anklet) for 30 years on the morning of the 26th. The court stated, "Considering the seriousness of the case, the number and extent of victims, and the social harm caused by the crime, it is necessary to strictly punish and isolate the defendant from society."
Five accomplices who were tried alongside Jo were also sentenced to heavy prison terms ranging from 7 to 15 years. 'Taepyeongyang' Lee (16), who is still a minor, was sentenced to the maximum juvenile sentence of 10 years in long-term imprisonment and 5 years in short-term imprisonment. Kang (24), a social service worker who requested the death penalty from the court at the last sentencing hearing, was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
The court recognized the defendants' guilt not only for sex crime-related charges but also for additional charges of organizing and joining a criminal organization. The court said, "The defendants participated in the crimes to receive new exploitation materials despite knowing the distribution of sexual exploitation materials, and carried out Jo's orders," adding, "It is acknowledged that they joined and were active in Baksa-bang while aware of the criminal group."
This case began to be investigated in earnest after a victim of Baksa-bang reported it in September last year. Subsequent investigations revealed the actual crimes of threatening minors and others to produce and distribute sexual exploitation materials. The prosecution indicted Jo in April on 14 charges including violations of the Child and Youth Sexual Protection Act. Later, Jo and his accomplices were re-indicted on charges of organizing and joining a criminal organization.
The Supreme Court Sentencing Commission established sentencing guidelines allowing up to 29 years and 3 months imprisonment for repeated habitual production of child and youth sexual exploitation materials, prompted by this case. This reflects the social consensus that digital sex crimes cause serious harm, similar to rape and other sex crimes. However, the sentencing guidelines created by the Supreme Court were not applied in this case. Nevertheless, the heavy sentences are interpreted as the court considering the stricter sentencing standards.
Meanwhile, two accomplices indicted for assisting Jo's fraud were also sentenced to prison terms. Judge Lee Ki-hong of the Criminal Division 24 of the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Kim (28), who was detained and indicted for fraud, to 1 year and 6 months in prison, and Lee to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year probation. They are accused of conspiring in the process where Jo deceived JTBC President Sohn Seok-hee by claiming to provide information obtained through a private investigation agency from April to September last year and received 18 million won, and deceived former Gwangju Mayor Yoon Jang-hyun in August of the same year by promising to compensate for fraud damages and received 20 million won.
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