The prosecution requested a sentence of 1 year and 6 months in prison in the first trial for Oh Tae-wan, the mayor of Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongnam, who was indicted on the same charge after suing a woman who was a victim of sexual assault for false accusation.
On the 14th, the prosecution made this request to the court at the sentencing hearing held at the Criminal Division 3 of Masan Branch, Changwon District Court, Gyeongnam (Presiding Judge Kim Nam-il).
O Tae-wan, Governor of Uiryeong County, Gyeongnam, is answering questions from reporters outside the courtroom immediately after the appellate court ruling on charges of sexual assault. Photo by Lee Se-ryeong
Mayor Oh was accused of forcibly touching a female reporter by grabbing her hand while having dinner with reporters who had access to the county office at a restaurant in Uiryeong-gun on June 17, 2021. After being accused, he held an emergency press conference on June 28 of the same year and was indicted on charges of false accusation and defamation against the victim.
He was sentenced to 6 months in prison with a 2-year probation in the first trial but appealed claiming innocence, and in the second trial, he was fined 10 million won.
Subsequently, Mayor Oh appealed to the Supreme Court against the guilty verdict, and the appeal trial is currently ongoing.
Elected public officials lose their position if sentenced to imprisonment or higher in a criminal case.
On this day, the prosecution stated, “Mayor Oh defined the victim’s testimony as a conspiracy by hostile political forces and caused secondary harm to the victim until the commission of this crime,” and added, “Please consider that it has already been clearly judged that the sexual assault occurred, yet he denies it and shows no remorse, and that he has not been forgiven by the victim.”
In his final statement, Mayor Oh said, “At the time of filing the accusation, I was hastily driven by the desire to reveal the truth, so I could not help but actively respond to the accusation and complaint,” and “There is still so much to do for the residents, so I earnestly ask for leniency so that I can work harder.”
The verdict in this case is scheduled to be delivered around 2 p.m. on February 27.
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