A man in his 60s who shot steel marbles with a slingshot at residents who ousted the village chief receives a suspended prison sentence

Cheongju District Court Sentences 6 Months Imprisonment with 2 Years Probation
Shooting Steel Balls at Resident Shops Causes Damage Worth 10 Million Won

A former village chief who was ousted due to residents' opposition harbored resentment and fired steel balls at the glass windows of commercial buildings operated by them, resulting in a suspended prison sentence.

On the 4th, the Cheongju District Court Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Kwon No-eul) announced that it sentenced Mr. A (68), who was indicted on charges of special property damage, to six months in prison with a two-year suspension. Mr. A, who was the village chief of Deoksan-eup, Jincheon-gu, Chungbuk, was tried for firing steel balls with a slingshot at two commercial buildings operated by apartment residents five times over about two weeks starting February 11, causing damage worth 10 million won.

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. [Photo by Yonhap News]

According to the police investigation, Mr. A was elected as the first village chief in 2017. The term and reappointment conditions of the village chief are decided through a village general meeting, but Mr. A, after being elected as the first village chief in this village mainly composed of a newly developed apartment complex in 2017, maintained his position without establishing any related regulations.

Meanwhile, some residents expressed opposition to his long-term rule, and eventually, Mr. A was ousted from the village chief position by residents in September 2022. Mr. A attempted to run for the village chief position again, but when another resident was elected instead of him, he harbored resentment and committed the crime. It was revealed that he visited the commercial buildings of those who led his ousting and the current village chief to commit the crime. The victims said, "Mr. A lowered the car window and slowly moved while shooting."

At the time of the crime, the police, who pursued the suspect following a report, analyzed nearby closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, identified Mr. A’s vehicle, and arrested him. The victims reportedly did not suspect Mr. A’s involvement at all because he had no significant contact with them for over a year.

The court stated the sentencing reasons, saying, "He repeatedly damaged others' property with dangerous objects, which must have caused considerable fear among the victims. However, we took into account that he reached a settlement with the victims and that he has no prior criminal record except for one fine."