3-Month Prison Sentence for Violating Nighttime Curfew Order
Prosecutors: "No Room for Improvement... Requesting 1-Year Imprisonment"
Jo Doo-soon, who was prosecuted and sentenced to three months in prison for violating the nighttime outing restriction order and was detained in court, challenged the prosecutor during the appeal trial, asking, "What did I do wrong?"
According to the Criminal Appeals Division 2 of Suwon District Court (Chief Judge Kim Yeon-ha) on the 1st, Jo Doo-soon stated during the trial for violating the Act on Electronic Monitoring Devices, "My wife is stronger than me," and added, "I went to the police post to consult with the officers there."
This trial was the first appeal hearing and the final hearing for Jo Doo-soon. He appealed the first trial’s sentence of three months in prison, claiming the punishment was too harsh and unfair. The prosecution also filed an appeal, arguing that the sentence was too light and unjust.
Child sex offender Jo Doo-soon, who was caught violating the curfew order and was non-detained prosecuted for violating the Act on Electronic Monitoring Devices, is answering reporters' questions after finishing his first trial held at the Ansan Branch of Suwon District Court in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province on the morning of March 11. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Jo Doo-soon was prosecuted for violating the "no nighttime outings after 9 p.m." order on December 4 last year at around 9:05 p.m., when he went outside his residence in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, for about 40 minutes.
He was immediately caught after walking from the first-floor shared entrance of his residential building about 6 to 7 meters to a police security post, where he spoke to two police officers on duty. Upon receiving a violation alert from the control center, the Ansan Probation Office sent a probation officer to the scene, and Jo returned home within 40 minutes.
At the time, Jo was investigated for unauthorized outing due to domestic discord, claiming he had quarreled with his wife.
As in the first trial, the hearing concluded on the first day. The prosecution requested a one-year prison sentence for Jo Doo-soon, the same as the original sentence demand.
The prosecution explained, "Jo Doo-soon showed no signs of improvement, as evidenced by his attitude immediately after the incident, such as telling probation office staff, 'If I meet a good judge, the fine is 1.5 million won; if not, it’s 3 million won. I have money.' During the trial, he also justified his actions by saying he had no choice but to leave because of a marital quarrel."
They continued, "When the original court sentenced him to imprisonment, he challenged the court, asking, 'Is it wrong to have gone to the police post?' Considering this, the original sentence was excessively lenient."
In his final statement, Jo Doo-soon said, "The probation officer came right away and said, 'Mr. Jo Doo-soon, please come up.' I said, 'I'm sorry,' and went back home. They catch someone who is just staying at home... Do I have to fight with my wife?" he raised his voice.
Jo Doo-soon was sentenced to 12 years in prison for abducting and sexually assaulting an elementary school student in front of a church in Ansan in December 2008, causing serious injury. He was released on December 12, 2020, after serving his sentence. Near his residence, two police security posts, surveillance personnel, and 34 security cameras are deployed for 24-hour monitoring.
Meanwhile, the second trial verdict for Jo Doo-soon is scheduled for the 29th of this month.
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