Assault Incident at Incheon Apartment Parking Lot Last Year
Hair Pulled and Fists Thrown in Broad Daylight, Diagnosed with 6 Weeks Recovery
"100 Million Won Deposit, Petition Submitted"... "Still in Pain"
A former bodybuilder who assaulted a woman last year after she asked him to move his double-parked car in a parking lot of an apartment complex in Incheon has been sentenced to prison. On the 1st, Newsis reported, "At the sentencing hearing held by the Criminal Division 5 of the Incheon District Court (Presiding Judge Hong Jun-seo), the prosecution requested a prison sentence of 3 years and 6 months for A, a man in his 30s and former bodybuilder, who was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (joint injury)."
A former bodybuilder accused of indiscriminately assaulting a woman who asked him to move his vehicle is entering the Incheon District Court in July last year to undergo a pre-trial detention hearing. [Image source=Yonhap News]
According to Newsis, A’s defense attorney stated in the final argument, “Please consider that he assaulted the victim due to a misunderstanding that she was harming his spouse, who had struggled to become pregnant,” and added, “It is entirely our fault that we could not reach a settlement with the victim.” He continued, “Please take into account that we carefully tried to reach a settlement over a long period, fearing that even attempting to settle might cause secondary harm to the victim,” and “After this incident, the defendant closed both gyms he operated in Gangnam, Seoul, and Incheon, and gave up all profits earned through YouTube and other means.”
He also emphasized, “Despite being behind on a significant amount of taxes and struggling with monthly rent payments, he deposited a large sum of 100 million won in escrow,” and “If you look at the petition submitted today, many were handwritten, showing genuine encouragement for the defendant and indicating that his social ties are strong.” It was reported that A’s side submitted 75 petitions during the trial, appealing for leniency.
Furthermore, they pleaded, “If the defendant is given just one more chance, he will never commit such an act again.” A said, “I apologize to the victim and her family who suffered physical and emotional wounds,” and “I have thought a lot about how to ask for forgiveness from the victim, and I was afraid that the victim might be further hurt by seeing information about me on social media or the internet.” He added, “Still, I am holding on for the sake of my child who has come into the world. I will accept the punishment for the mistakes I have made.”
"Unable to live daily life at all... Trauma from news of escrow deposit"
However, the victim B’s side is reportedly still suffering from the incident and has refused to accept the escrow money deposited by A. B’s husband said, “My wife is still suffering and receiving psychiatric treatment and medication,” and “When she heard the news that (A) had deposited the money in escrow, she became even more distressed due to trauma.”
He continued, “Since we live in the same neighborhood as A and his group, and often encounter them, my wife is currently staying at her parents’ house in the provinces,” and “Because of this incident, we cannot live our daily lives at all, and we are planning to put up the house we lived in for sale and move.”
The incident occurred around 11 a.m. on May 20 last year in the parking lot of a commercial area within an apartment complex in Namdong-gu, Incheon. At the time, B called A to ask him to move his car, which was blocking her vehicle, and then argued with A when he arrived at the scene. During this process, A grabbed B’s hair, threw her to the ground, assaulted her with fists and other means, repeatedly cursed, took off his shirt, and spat.
A and his wife later claimed mutual assault to the police who arrived at the scene, but the incident caused a major controversy after a black box video was released on online communities and broadcasts. It was also reported that A’s wife kicked B and said, “Call the police. If you say I hit you, it’s fine because I’m pregnant.”
As a result of the incident, B was diagnosed with six weeks of recovery time, including a broken rib. A’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for the 31st.
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