Prosecution Appeals 27-Year Prison Sentence in 'Sillim-dong Gosiwon Landlord Murder' Case

Defendant in the 'Sillim-dong Goshiwon Landlord Murder' case.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] The prosecution has appealed the first trial verdict that sentenced the defendant in the 'Sillim-dong Gosiwon Building Owner Murder' case to 27 years in prison.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Trial Division 1 (Chief Prosecutor Kim Hyun-ah) announced on the 21st that it has appealed the first trial verdict sentencing tenant A (33) to 27 years in prison for strangling the landlord of the Sillim-dong Gosiwon (female, 73 at the time of death) to death and stealing cash and other items, citing reasons such as inappropriate sentencing.

A prosecution official explained the reason for the appeal, stating, "The defendant killed the landlord and took cash due to a lack of living expenses, making the case very serious. Despite the clear murder, the defendant denies intent by claiming there was no intention to kill and shows no remorse. Considering the mental suffering experienced by the victim's family due to this crime and their plea for severe punishment, we judged that a heavier sentence and an electronic monitoring order corresponding to the crime are necessary."

Earlier, during the sentencing hearing, the prosecution requested the court to sentence A to life imprisonment and impose an electronic monitoring order for 15 years.

A is accused of murdering a woman in her 70s, the building owner of the Gwanak-gu Sillim-dong Gosiwon where he resided, on September 27 last year, and fleeing after stealing her card, bankbook, and approximately 100,000 won in cash, on charges of robbery-murder.

The victim was found dead with her hands tied in the basement level 1 of the Gosiwon building on the day of the incident.

The police identified suspect A by analyzing CCTV around the Gosiwon and made an emergency arrest at a sauna in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, around 10 p.m. on the same day.

The police investigated A while in custody and transferred him to the prosecution on October 5 last year.