Detained in First Trial... Sentence Reduced on Appeal
Expelled for Illegal Filming at Attended High School
Two teenagers who were sentenced to imprisonment in the first trial for secretly installing cameras in the restrooms of a female teacher at a high school in Daejeon and illegally filming were released after their sentences were reduced to probation in the appellate trial.
On the 13th, the 5-3 Criminal Appeals Division of the Daejeon District Court (Chief Judge Lee Hyoseon) sentenced Mr. A to 1 year and 6 months in prison with 2 years probation in the appellate trial for violation of the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (filming using cameras, etc.), according to Yonhap News Agency. The court also sentenced Mr. B, who was tried on the same charges, to 10 months in prison with 2 years probation. They were also ordered to perform 120 hours of community service, complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment programs, and were banned from employment in facilities related to children, adolescents, and persons with disabilities for 5 years.
Mr. A and Mr. B were prosecuted on charges of filming teachers’ body parts 44 times in the classrooms of the high school they attended from March to August last year when they were in their third year of high school, and illegally installing cameras in the female teachers’ restrooms. They committed the illegal filming crimes using pen-shaped cameras and reportedly provided some of the videos they filmed to unknown persons. Their restroom hidden camera filming was discovered when a teacher who was about to use the restroom found a camera dropped on the floor. The school requested a police investigation into them in August last year and expelled them simultaneously.
On April 3rd, the first trial court sentenced Mr. A to 2 years and 6 months in long-term imprisonment and 2 years in short-term imprisonment, and Mr. B to 1 year and 6 months in prison, and detained them in court. The first trial court explained the sentencing reason by stating, "The defendants’ crimes are serious and they were not forgiven by the victims." Mr. A and Mr. B appealed against this, and the prosecution also appealed, arguing that their sentences were too light.
The appellate court overturned the first trial’s ruling that sentenced Mr. A to imprisonment with long- and short-term terms after reaching adulthood, accepted the defendant’s claim of excessive sentencing, and reduced the sentence to probation. Accordingly, Mr. A and others were released five months after being detained in court.
The appellate court pointed out the gravity of their crimes, saying, "Considering the mental shock and shame experienced by the teachers who taught the defendants, the guilt is heavy." It added, "However, since the victims’ faces were not shown in the photos taken, 28 million won was deposited in criminal escrow, and they are showing remorse, the original sentence seems heavy."
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