"‘I Have Police Connections’ Subway Cellphone Assault Woman... Sentenced to 1 Year in First Trial"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] A woman in her 20s who was prosecuted for repeatedly hitting a man in his 60s on the head with a mobile phone on Seoul Subway Line 9 was sentenced to imprisonment in the first trial.

Judge Jeon Beomsik of the Seoul Southern District Court Criminal Division 8 sentenced A (27), who was detained and indicted on charges of special injury, assault, and insult, to one year in prison on the 6th.

The court stated, "The crime is not light, as the defendant insulted the victim who protested on the subway and struck the head multiple times with a dangerous object causing several injuries," and added, "Especially since many passengers witnessed the incident and tried to intervene, but the defendant ignored them and continued the crime against the elderly victim." Regarding the additional charges filed on the 10th of last month, the court added, "the defendant assaulted the victim by pouring a drink on the victim's head and hitting with a bag on the subway."

However, the court explained the sentencing reason by saying, "The defendant admitted all charges and has no prior criminal record except for fines."

A was indicted on charges of repeatedly hitting the head of a man in his 60s with a mobile phone during an argument on the Seoul Subway Line 9 heading to Gayang Station on March 16. During the first trial, an additional indictment was filed for a separate offense of assaulting another victim in October last year by pouring a beverage on him and repeatedly assaulting him with hands and feet.

At the sentencing hearing held on the 22nd of last month, the prosecution requested the court to sentence A to two years in prison, stating, "Despite carrying a dangerous object and injuring others, no settlement has been reached yet."

At that time, A pleaded for leniency, saying, "I deeply regret and reflect on my wrongful actions," but also added, "I went through a mentally difficult period in life, having been hurt by many people."