Angry Citizens Kick Foreign Luxury Car Owned by Yangbu
On the 13th, the first trial of the adoptive parents accused of abusing and causing the death of their 16-month-old adopted daughter, Jeong-in, was held at the Seoul Southern District Court in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. As the adoptive father, Mr. Ahn, exited the vehicle, citizens strongly protested. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] The first trial of the adoptive parents who abused 16-month-old adopted child Jeong-in to death was held on the 13th. It was revealed that the adoptive father, Mr. An, owns a luxury foreign car, sparking criticism. Citizens who saw him calmly leaving the courthouse in a foreign car, despite the horrific abuse that ultimately caused Jeong-in's death, protested fiercely by blocking the car.
That morning, the first trial of Jeong-in's adoptive parents was held at the Seoul Southern District Court. The prosecution requested a change in the indictment against the adoptive mother, who was detained and charged with child abuse resulting in death, to murder.
The adoptive father was indicted without detention on charges of emotional abuse, such as forcing Jeong-in to clap strongly while sitting on his lap.
It was investigated that in April last year, the adoptive father tightly held Jeong-in's arm and forcibly made her clap strongly and quickly, continuing the act even when Jeong-in cried.
From early morning, dozens of parents and citizens gathered in front of the court demanding severe punishment for the adoptive parents.
Anmo Ahn, the adoptive father accused of abusing and causing the death of his 16-month-old adopted daughter Jeongin, left the first trial held at the Seoul Southern District Court in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 13th and got into a vehicle as citizens expressed their anger. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
After the trial, the adoptive father left the scene in his own vehicle, and the adoptive mother left in a transport vehicle. During this process, protesters blocked and kicked the foreign car driven by Mr. An, showing intense anger.
The adoptive father, wearing a mask and a hooded padded jumper, left the courtroom without answering reporters' questions such as "Do you admit the charges?" and left the court in a black BMW sedan with his lawyer.
Earlier, the adoptive father applied for personal protection measures at the court in anticipation of reporters and citizens gathering there. After the trial, he left under the protection of court officials.
Some citizens shouted, "Why does the police protect the defendant and treat citizens like criminals?"
After several months of abuse following the adoption of Jeong In-yang, the adoptive father, Mr. An, suspected of causing her death, is leaving the Seoul Southern District Court in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, after the first trial on charges including violation of the Child Welfare Act (child abandonment and neglect) on the 13th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
In particular, some netizens shared photos of Mr. An's car on various online communities and social networking services (SNS), criticizing, "He abused Jeong-in but rides in a foreign car," "He beat the child to death but covers his whole body and even receives security," "They say the free burial site only costs 3,000 won for a frame, so why a foreign car?" and "He rides a foreign car but didn't even properly buy food for the child."
Meanwhile, the prosecution changed the indictment against the adoptive mother, Ms. Jang, who was tried for child abuse resulting in death, to murder. The prosecution stated, "We request to change the indictment primarily to murder and alternatively to child abuse resulting in death."
Ms. Jang's side denied the changed charges. They claimed there was no intent to cause Jeong-in's death and denied both murder and child abuse resulting in death charges. Ms. Jang's lawyer argued, "We admit the assault but deny the intent to abuse."
The lawyer stated, "There is a fact that she pushed and hit the abdomen and back with her hands, and out of overwhelming emotion for the increasingly weakened child, she shook her arms while holding them, and dropped her due to pain from chest surgery aftereffects," adding, "There was no fact of giving a shock strong enough to sever the pancreas."
The lawyer also denied intent regarding Mr. An's charges. Mr. An's side claimed, "Although he knew the victim's body was weak, he did not provide proper nutrition or take measures for the victim," but argued, "He believed Ms. Jang would raise the child in her own way and did not intentionally neglect her."
Meanwhile, the next trial for Ms. Jang and Mr. An will be held on the 17th of next month.
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