High School Peers Accused of Motel Confinement and Injury
Defendants Plead for Leniency, Vowing to Reflect for Life
Prosecutors Seek Maximum Juvenile Sentence of 10 Years Imprisonment for Two Main Perpetrators
On the 16th, the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office requested the maximum sentence under the Juvenile Act for teenagers who confined their peers, burned them with cigarette butts, and filmed them naked. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] The prosecution has demanded heavy sentences for teenagers who confined their peers in a motel, burned them with cigarette lighters, and filmed them naked.
On the 16th, at the sentencing hearing held at the Incheon District Court Criminal Division 13 (Presiding Judge Ho Seong-ho), the prosecution requested a long-term prison sentence of 10 years and a short-term sentence of 5 years for A (17), who was detained and indicted, and B (15), who was indicted without detention, on charges of special injury, special confinement, and violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes (filming using a camera). They also requested an order to complete a sexual violence treatment program and a 5-year employment restriction order.
For C (17), who was indicted without detention on charges of special injury, the prosecution requested a long-term prison sentence of 5 years and a short-term sentence of 3 years.
Earlier, A and B were indicted on charges of confining and assaulting high school student D (18) for about 8 hours at a motel in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, around 4 a.m. on February 13.
They tied D’s body with duct tape, burned him with cigarette lighters, beat him with empty soju bottles, and assaulted him, as well as taking photos of him naked, according to the investigation. C is accused of later going to the motel and assaulting D, causing injury.
D escaped from the motel that afternoon and reported to 112 (emergency number). He was seriously injured, including facial fractures, and was diagnosed as needing 28 days of treatment. They were arrested that afternoon by police who began investigating following D’s report.
According to the police investigation, the crime was committed after a verbal dispute with D. A stated during the police investigation that "B and D had dated and then broken up."
A’s lawyer, in the final defense, requested the court to consider that "there was no particular grudge with the victim and the crime was not planned," and asked for leniency as A fully admitted to the crime and deeply reflected on it. A also said in his final statement, "I sincerely apologize to the victim for my unforgivable bad behavior," and "I will live reflecting on this as a sinner for the rest of my life."
B’s lawyer said, "The defendant is remorseful, and considering that she suffers from impulse control disorder requiring long-term hospital treatment and that she is only 14 years old, please take these into account." C’s lawyer requested, "Considering that C’s involvement was minor compared to the other two defendants and that he is a first-time offender, please transfer him to the juvenile court."
Meanwhile, according to the Juvenile Act, minors under 19 years old who commit crimes can be sentenced with indeterminate sentences divided into long-term and short-term terms. After serving the short-term sentence, they can be released before the long-term sentence expires based on correctional authorities’ evaluation. The statutory maximum sentence for imprisonment under the Juvenile Act is a long-term sentence of 10 years and a short-term sentence of 5 years.
The prosecution demanded the maximum possible sentence for the main offenders, A and B.
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