Sent Threatening Texts About Customer's Child
Chuncheon District Court Sentences to 6 Months Imprisonment, 2 Years Probation
A man in his 40s who caused a minor collision while driving a female customer's car and then sent threatening messages was sentenced to prison with a suspended sentence.
On the 20th, the Chuncheon District Court Criminal Division 1 (Judge Shin Dong-il) announced that A (42), who was indicted on charges of threats and obscene acts using communication media under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, was sentenced to six months in prison with a two-year suspension and ordered to attend 40 hours of sexual violence treatment lectures.
A was put on trial for causing a minor collision while driving the car of customer B (42, female) last July and then sending threatening messages that appeared to threaten B’s children during discussions about handling the accident three days later. He also sent B vulgar messages that caused sexual shame or disgust.
A sent B a message saying, "What are your kids going to do? You should live properly," along with sexually shameful expressions. At the time, A reportedly committed these acts in a fit of anger after receiving a message from B that said, "You said you would provide your resident registration number, so please leave your name. If you provide personal information, I will find out through someone I know."
The court explained the sentencing by stating, "A did not reach an agreement with the victim and has multiple prior violent offenses, including a previous prison sentence. Considering that he threatened the victim despite being contacted by the victim due to the accident he caused, the sentence was determined accordingly."
Meanwhile, there was a recent case where a substitute driver, who was intoxicated and driving without a license, threatened and retaliated against the car owner who reported him, and was brought to trial. Around 4 a.m. on the 27th of last month, C contacted a substitute driving service to call a driver to take him home after drinking. The driver arrived soon after, and C got into the car driven by the substitute driver heading home.
While driving, substitute driver D used profanity toward C, criticizing him by saying things like, "Why did you manage the car like this?" and "There’s a strange noise." Upset, C retorted, "Drive properly," and the argument escalated. Eventually, the two got into a fistfight, and as the fight intensified, D called the police.
Thinking D’s words and actions were suspicious, C requested the police to conduct a breathalyzer test on D. The result showed D’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.217%, a level warranting license cancellation. Even more shocking was that D had previously been caught for drunk driving and had his license revoked, meaning he was driving without a license. D was handed over to the police, and C went home, seemingly ending the commotion. However, two hours later, after finishing police questioning, D went to C’s house, called him, and repeatedly sent threatening text messages such as "I will destroy your car" and "Come out and apologize."
Feeling uneasy, C went to the parking lot in front of his house and found that the side mirror and turn signal lever were actually damaged, and items inside the car such as the Hi-Pass device, sneakers, and black box were thrown outside, creating a chaotic scene. C immediately reported to the police, and D was arrested again on the spot. On the 11th, the Busan District Prosecutors’ Office Western Branch indicted D in his 40s on charges including violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (retaliatory threats, etc.) and violation of the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving).
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