Court: "Victim Suffered Crime at Young Age and Still Endures Pain"
A man in his 20s was sentenced to prison for the charge of raping his elementary school stepsibling when he was a middle school student.
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jeong-wan] A man in his 20s, who was prosecuted for raping his stepsister when she was an elementary school student 10 years ago, was sentenced to prison in the first trial.
On the 25th, the 13th Criminal Division of the Uijeongbu District Court (Judge Park Juyoung) announced that it sentenced defendant A (25) to five years in prison for violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, including rape of a minor under 13 years old. In addition, A was ordered to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program and to disclose his personal information.
A was prosecuted on charges of repeatedly raping and forcing similar sexual acts on his stepsister B, who was 11 years old at the time, at their residence from August to December 2012, when A was a middle school student 10 years ago. It was found that A took advantage of B’s vulnerable state, having grown up in a remarried family at a young age, and committed the crimes while their parents were absent.
A’s criminal acts were revealed after 10 years. B suffered from trauma and continued to receive psychological counseling even after becoming an adult, eventually reporting A to the police.
A’s side claimed innocence, stating, "There was no such charge as rape," and argued that "B’s testimony is not credible because emotions worsened between A’s mother and B’s father during their divorce process." However, the court rejected A’s claims, stating, "B’s testimony is consistent, B remembers A’s physical characteristics, and many details that could not be known without direct experience are included, making the sequence of events naturally connected."
The court also explained the sentencing rationale, saying, "B has suffered from this crime since a young age and continues to endure pain. Appropriate punishment is inevitable."
However, the court ruled "not guilty for the crimes committed from August to September 2012 based on various testimonies and evidence, but guilty for the crimes committed at the end of December," and took into account that "A is a first-time offender with no prior criminal record, was a juvenile at the time, and has lived as a decent member of society."
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