Han Dong-hoon, a candidate for the leader of the People Power Party, received a prison sentence again in the appellate court for a man in his 40s who was prosecuted for leaving a weapon in front of his home when Han was the Minister of Justice.
A man in his 40s, suspected of leaving a weapon in front of former Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon's house, is seen leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul, after a pre-trial detention hearing on the afternoon of October 16 last year. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the 17th, the 14-2 Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Oh Young-sang, Lim Jong-hyo, Park Hye-sun) sentenced Hong Mo (43), who was prosecuted for special intimidation and other charges, to one year in prison, the same as the first trial.
The court stated, "The original judgment was made considering that the crime against a high-ranking government official was of a particularly bad nature and highly blameworthy, the method of the crime was improper, the facts were generally acknowledged, and there was diminished mental capacity, and this is deemed appropriate."
However, the court ruled not guilty on the charge of violating the Stalking Punishment Act, saying, "The defendant had no acquaintance with the victim, had no contact or communication, and during two prior reconnaissance visits, came after midnight, making it difficult to encounter the victim or for the defendant to be aware of the act. It is hard to see that these acts caused anxiety or fear."
Earlier, Hong was arrested and indicted for leaving a weapon and a lighter for ignition in front of the entrance door of an apartment in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where candidate Han lives, in the early morning of October 11 last year.
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