Imprisonment Sentences of 1 to 4 Years Confirmed by 2nd Trial Court
"80% of Minor Sexual Purchase Crimes Receive Habitual Probation"
The Supreme Court has finalized prison sentences for adults who proposed conditional meetings to elementary school students and engaged in sexual relations with them. In this case, although the prosecution had previously requested heavy sentences, the first trial court handed down suspended sentences, sparking controversy mainly among civic groups.
On the 15th, 'Yonhap News' reported that the Supreme Court recently upheld the second trial court's ruling sentencing A (32) to four years in prison for charges including statutory rape of a minor and violation of the Youth Protection Act by dismissing the appeal.
Four others indicted alongside A also had prison sentences ranging from one to three years finalized. One defendant in their 20s, who was only charged with soliciting prostitution, received a sentence of one year in prison with two years of probation.
Members of child and youth support organizations and women's groups in the Gangwon region held a press conference in front of Chuncheon District Court on the afternoon of January 18, urging strict punishment for adults who proposed transactional meetings to minors and engaged in sexual relations with them. [Image source=Yonhap News]
A and the others are accused of forcibly molesting or raping two elementary school students under the age of consent, each once. The defendants did not know each other and reportedly committed the crimes after finding conditional meeting targets through social networking services (SNS). Among the suspects was one public official who was dismissed after the incident.
Previously, the prosecution sought a 20-year prison sentence for A, who committed the crimes four times, and 10 to 15 years in prison?close to the maximum statutory sentence?for the other defendants. For the defendant in their 20s charged only with soliciting prostitution, the prosecution requested a three-year prison sentence.
However, when the first trial court handed down suspended prison sentences or fines to the defendants, civic groups strongly opposed the decision. At the time, civic groups criticized, saying, "Granting suspended sentences on the grounds of consent, first offense, and deposit is giving impunity to the perpetrators."
The victim's lawyer at the time also repeatedly appealed, saying, "Eighty percent of rulings on crimes involving the purchase of sex from minors habitually result in suspended sentences," and expressed hope that this case would break the precedent and take a step forward in protecting children's sexuality.
Subsequently, the second trial court overturned the first trial ruling, stating, "The defendants committed heinous crimes by raping or molesting young victims, engaging in prostitution, or soliciting prostitution, showing a bad nature of the crime." The defendants appealed the second trial ruling, but the Supreme Court deemed the original ruling appropriate, thus finalizing their sentences.
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