Court Sentences 50-Year-Old to Prison for Verbal Abuse and Violence Against Bus Driver Requesting to Wear Mask Properly

Detention / Photo by Asia Economy DB

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] A man in his 50s who swore and caused a disturbance after a bus driver asked him to pull up his mask was sentenced to prison in the first trial.

According to the legal community on the 25th, Judge Oh Deoksik of the Criminal Division 20 at the Seoul Central District Court recently sentenced Mr. A (57), who was indicted for obstruction of business, to six months in prison.

The court stated, "Mr. A has a prior record of a fine for obstruction of business and committed the crime during the probation period. He caused a disturbance inside the bus after being asked to properly wear a mask for prevention until the police arrived, which is a serious offense."

In August of last year, when the bus driver asked him to "pull up your mask," Mr. A swore and caused a disturbance, saying, "Even if I pull it up, it keeps going down, so what do you want me to do?"

He refused to get off the bus, saying, "Don't cause trouble and just go quickly," and is accused of obstructing bus operations for about 15 minutes until the police arrived after being called.

Mr. A appealed the first trial verdict on the 22nd.