40-Year-Old Father Found Guilty for Whispering "I'll Kill You" to 9-Year-Old Child's Friend

Uijeongbu District Court Namyangju Branch Sentences 3 Million Won Fine
Emotions Worsen After Dispute Over Cell Phone Damage

A father in his 40s who made threatening whispers to his 9-year-old child's friend after a fight was sentenced to a fine on charges of child abuse.

On the 23rd, the Uijeongbu District Court Namyangju Branch Criminal Division 1 (Judge Choi Chi-bong) announced that it sentenced Mr. A (42), who was indicted on charges of child abuse under the Child Welfare Act, to a fine of 3 million won. Mr. A was prosecuted for emotionally abusing B (9), who was playing with friends at a playground in Guri-si, Gyeonggi Province, on January 10 last year, by approaching him and whispering, "If you come looking for me one more time, I will kill you."

Uijeongbu District Court Namyangju Branch

B was friends with Mr. A's child but reportedly had a major fight over a broken cellphone. Afterwards, the children's quarrel escalated into an adult dispute, with Mr. A clashing with B's parents. It was also reported that B's mother was investigated by the police for inappropriate behavior toward Mr. A's child.

During the trial, Mr. A denied the charges, stating, "I only told him, 'Don't come to my house,' and did not abuse B," but the court did not accept this. The court cited B's consistent testimony and the statement of B's friend C, who was present at the scene and immediately reported that Mr. A had said such words to B.

The court stated, "Given that there had been no contact or conflict between the parties for some time, it is unreasonable to believe that a victim only 9 years old would lie to his mother or falsely report after immediately consulting with her just because he was asked or urged not to come to the house," adding, "If the defendant had said something legally permissible, there would be no reason to whisper such words so quietly that B's other friends could not hear."