[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] A man in his 50s who assaulted a city bus driver after being asked to wear his mask properly over his chin was sentenced to prison.
On the 24th, Chief Judge Lee Dong-ho of the Criminal Division 2 at Cheongju District Court sentenced A (54), who was charged with assaulting a driver under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, to one year in prison with a two-year probation. Additionally, he was ordered to perform 80 hours of community service.
A is accused of causing a disturbance by repeatedly pushing and threatening to punch the bus driver B (37) inside a city bus stopped in Sangdang-gu, Cheongju City, around 2:10 p.m. on July 15 last year. It was confirmed that A caused this disturbance after driver B requested him to wear his mask properly.
Afterward, A got off the bus and tried to flee but assaulted B again by biting him and striking his arm dozens of times with his fists, causing injuries requiring two weeks of medical treatment.
The court stated, "The crime is very serious as the defendant assaulted the bus driver and caused injury simply because he was asked to wear his mask properly, warranting severe punishment," but also noted, "Considering that the defendant admitted the crime, showed remorse, and is a first-time offender with no prior criminal record," explaining the sentencing decision.
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