Operator Jo Joo-bin of the Telegram 'Doctor's Room,' who threatened women including minors to produce and distribute illegal sexual exploitation videos [Photo by Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The appeal trial of Jo Joo-bin, the operator of the Telegram 'Baksa Bang' accused of 'producing and distributing sexual exploitation materials and concealing criminal proceeds,' is expected to conclude next month.
On the morning of the 20th, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 9 (Chief Judge Moon Gwangseop) indicated during the fourth appeal hearing of Jo and five others charged with organizing a criminal group that "we plan to deliver the verdict by the end of May," signaling an intention to finish the trial before the detention period expires. They also decided to conclude the arguments as much as possible at the hearing scheduled for May 4.
On that day, the court summoned two police officers from the Yongsan Police Station who initially investigated Jo's accomplice, Cheon, for witness examination. Officer A testified, "At the time, since the case was not yet an issue, we brought Cheon thinking he was the 'Baksa,' but upon investigation, we were surprised to find he was not the Baksa." He added, "Then, additional nude photos of other women were discovered on Cheon's electronic devices, which made us realize that there was much more involved in this case."
Regarding the charge of organizing a criminal group, the prosecution argued that "even if the dates are not specified, if one actively participates at a certain point in a continuous process contributing to the concretization of the organization, the crime of organizing a criminal group can be applied." In particular, from late September 2019, the prosecution views the 13 individuals who created a system dividing the Baksa Bang membership into ranks, awarding points to members, and gathering those who accumulated over 10,000 points as having organized and joined a criminal group.
Previously, Jo was indicted for threatening dozens of female victims, including children and adolescents, from May 2019 to February of the following year, to film sexual exploitation videos and selling and distributing them through the Telegram Baksa Bang. The first trial sentenced him to 40 years in prison last November. Subsequently, he was also indicted for concealing approximately 108 million won in profits by receiving Baksa Bang criminal proceeds in cryptocurrency and exchanging them 53 times, for which he received an additional 5-year sentence in the first trial last February.
However, as the appeal trial merges the existing cases and the court reexamines the sentencing, the final sentence may be adjusted.
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