Taxi Driver Appeals for Leniency in Retrial
"I Will Become a New Person Again"
Prosecution Seeks 7-Year Prison Sentence
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] A taxi driver who blocked an ambulance transporting an emergency patient to the hospital. He, who said, "(The patient) should call 119. I take responsibility if he dies," choked up when the prosecution demanded a 7-year prison sentence at the appellate trial and pleaded for leniency, saying, "I sincerely apologize for causing great social unrest and standing here."
According to the legal community on the 1st, the prosecution demanded a 7-year prison sentence at the sentencing hearing of taxi driver Choi Mo (32) held on the 24th of last month at the Seoul Eastern District Court Criminal Appeals Division 3 (Presiding Judge Kim Chun-ho). This is the same as the sentence demanded in the first trial.
In the prosecution's sentencing opinion, they explained, "The defendant repeatedly committed insurance fraud over many years," and "Considering the period, method, and motive, the nature of the crime is serious."
They added, "Although a settlement was made, most of it was with the insurance company, and the crime led to the death of the patient being transported," and "Considering these points, the original court's judgment is too lenient." In October last year, Choi was sentenced to 2 years in prison in the first trial.
When the prosecution made the demand, Choi's side pleaded for leniency. The defense attorney explained, "The defendant has faced difficulties such as being hospitalized in a psychiatric ward since childhood and comes from an unfortunate family background," and "While incarcerated at Dongbu Detention Center, he was diagnosed with COVID-19 and endured severe physical and mental suffering, yet he quietly reflects, considering his situation as his punishment." He added, "He plans to work as a funeral director using the qualification he previously obtained," and requested, "We ask for leniency so that he can return to society normally."
Choi tearfully said, "Through the long investigation and trial, I deeply realized how grave my wrongdoing was," and "I think I ended up here because of bad habits developed while driving large trucks." He also said, "I sincerely apologize to everyone who was harmed because of my fault," and added, "I will pay the price, deeply reflect, and become a new person."
Choi is accused of deliberately causing a collision with an ambulance on a road in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, on June 8 last year, and blocking its way for about 10 minutes. The ambulance was carrying a 79-year-old stage 4 lung cancer patient who was experiencing breathing difficulties. The patient was transferred to another ambulance and taken to the hospital but passed away.
In addition, Choi is also accused of taking advantage of minor collisions six times between 2015 and 2019 while working as a driver of charter buses, company taxis, and trucks, collecting about 20 million won in settlements and medical expenses.
The second trial sentencing hearing for Choi is scheduled to be held on the 12th.
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