Oh Taewan, the governor of Uiryeong County in Gyeongnam, who was put on trial for forcibly molesting a female reporter, has been found guilty while maintaining his position, 3 years and 9 months after the incident occurred.
According to the legal community, the Supreme Court's first division (presiding justice: Shin Sookhee) dismissed Oh's appeal on the 6th in the final trial.
O Taewan, the mayor of Uiryeong County, is expressing his intention to appeal to the Supreme Court following the sentencing in the appellate trial related to the charge of forced molestation. Photo by Lee Seryeong
Oh was indicted on charges of forcibly molesting a female reporter by grabbing her hand and making sexually harassing remarks while dining with reporters at a restaurant in Uiryeong County on June 17, 2021.
He was initially sentenced to six months in prison with a two-year suspended sentence in the first trial, putting his position at risk. However, in the appeals trial, he was sentenced to a fine of 10 million won and ordered to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program.
Oh, who had consistently claimed innocence, appealed to the Supreme Court, but the court did not accept his appeal.
With the Supreme Court's final decision, Oh has avoided losing his position due to the charge of forcible molestation. However, attention is now focused on the upcoming first trial verdict regarding the related charge of false accusation.
Previously, after being sued by the victim reporter, Oh filed a counter-suit against the reporter for false accusation and defamation. The prosecution also counter-sued Oh for false accusation, stating that he was committing secondary harm.
At the sentencing hearing related to the false accusation charge held at the Masan Branch of the Changwon District Court this January, the prosecution requested a sentence of one year and six months in prison for Oh.
The first trial verdict on Oh's false accusation charge has been postponed once and is now scheduled for March 27 at 2 p.m.
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