Court Sentences 50s Man to 4 Years in Prison for Retaliatory Assault on Girlfriend Who Filed Stalking Complaint

Court.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] A man in his 50s was sentenced to a heavy prison term for assaulting his dating partner after she accused him of stalking.

The Criminal Division 12 of Daejeon District Court (Presiding Judge Na Sang-hoon) announced on the 24th that Mr. A (52), who was indicted on charges including retaliatory injury and retaliatory assault under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, was sentenced to four years in prison.

Mr. A was prosecuted for assaulting Ms. B (50), his girlfriend whom he had been dating since March of this year, by visiting the restaurant she runs on June 26 and choking her neck and hitting her face multiple times, after harboring resentment over her filing a police complaint against him for violating the Stalking Punishment Act.

Additional charges against Mr. A include assaulting Ms. B by kicking her on the early morning of July 9 due to suspicion of her male relationships, and assaulting her on August 18 for refusing to disclose her credit card PIN, causing injuries including a fractured rib that required five weeks of treatment.

Ms. B was hospitalized for treatment and was reportedly diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The court stated in its sentencing rationale, "The defendant repeatedly inflicted violence and injury on the victim, whom he had been dating since last March. Although they registered their marriage at the end of July, this circumstance cannot justify the crimes, and the victim is also pleading for severe punishment."