Similar Crimes Committed Around the Same Time
Assault Disguised as a Boxing Match
One Victim Unable to Lead a Normal Life
Two teenagers who caused a classmate to fall into a critical condition under the pretense of sparring were sentenced to imprisonment. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] It was revealed belatedly that high school perpetrators who severely beat a classmate into critical condition under the pretense of 'sparring' in martial arts committed similar offenses around the same time.
On the 24th, the Incheon District Court Criminal Division 9 (Judge Kim Jinwon) announced that A (17) and B (17), who were indicted for joint assault and extortion under the Act on the Punishment of Violent Crimes, were each sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 6 months to 4 months.
The court stated, "The defendants assaulted the victim alternately for two hours under the guise of sparring. Although they confessed to the crime and expressed remorse, their guilt is serious."
A and others are accused of severely assaulting their classmate C (17) at a boxing gym in Jung-gu, Incheon, at around 4:50 a.m. on November 22 of last year.
The offending students were found to have called the victims onto the ring, made them wear protective gear such as headgear, and then assaulted them. / Photo by Yonhap News
The two forcibly called C to the gym, saying "We will teach you how to fight," then gave him headgear and boxing gloves and assaulted him inside the ring.
A conducted sparring for 5 minutes according to actual boxing procedures, hitting C's face and other areas, then after a 1-minute break, B entered the ring and assaulted C again.
Previously, the two were also arrested and indicted for similar assaults on another classmate, D (17).
It was revealed that on November 28 last year, around 3 p.m., they secretly entered a community sports facility inside an apartment complex in Jung-gu and beat D.
The two made D wear a head protector under the pretense of martial arts sparring and alternately assaulted him severely for about 2 hours and 40 minutes. As a result, D suffered serious head injuries and was unconscious due to cerebral hemorrhage. He regained consciousness after about a month but remains unable to live a normal life.
The court sentenced them to imprisonment ranging from 8 years to 4 years in May, and in June, additionally sentenced them to imprisonment ranging from 10 months to 6 months for special injury charges.
A petition written by the family of the victim student on the Blue House National Petition Board received over 300,000 endorsements. / Photo by Blue House National Petition Board capture
This case drew attention when the victim's family posted a petition on the Blue House National Petition Board urging strong punishment for the perpetrators.
In a petition titled "Our son's life was ruined by cruel and terrifying school violence," posted in December last year, the petitioner, who identified herself as D's mother, explained, "My son was beaten so badly that his four front teeth are no longer in their proper place and are spread apart. The perpetrators, realizing he had fainted, did not call 119 but left him unconscious and played around jokingly. When he did not wake up for a long time, they poured water on him and dragged him across the cold floor."
She continued, "The perpetrators are bullies and scary friends, and this is not their first offense. I heard they even hired lawyers. There were other victims before my son, but I heard those cases were settled without severe punishment through lawyers."
She urged, "Because they are minors, they only receive light punishment, so they think they can get away without any guilt and be released soon. Please help prevent other victims like my child from emerging."
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