Court: "Completely Denied the Crime... Made No Effort to Help the Victim Recover"
A man in his 50s has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term for sexually assaulting the daughter of a senior acquaintance with whom he had maintained a friendship for 17 years.
According to legal sources on May 12, the Criminal Division of the Nonsan Branch of the Daejeon District Court sentenced Mr. A (in his 50s), who was indicted on charges including rape resulting in injury and indecent assault resulting in injury under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, to eight years in prison.
The court also ordered Mr. A to complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment programs and imposed a five-year employment restriction at institutions related to children, adolescents, and people with disabilities.
However, Mr. A was acquitted of charges of defamation of the deceased and violation of the Road Traffic Act.
Mr. A was arrested and indicted on charges of luring his senior's daughter, Ms. B (who was 21 years old at the time), in 2021 under the pretense of helping her practice driving, and then repeatedly sexually assaulting and molesting her in secluded mountain areas, his office, and motels.
Afterward, the victim, Ms. B, suffered from severe anxiety and nightmares, eventually confiding in her parents about the abuse, which led to the exposure of Mr. A's crimes.
Following the incident, Ms. B experienced a severe decline in cognitive abilities due to an acute stress reaction, regressing to the level of a 4- to 5-year-old child. She also exhibited dissociative symptoms, the most severe form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and has been receiving psychiatric treatment.
In July 2022, after unexpectedly encountering Mr. A at a mart in Nonsan, her health deteriorated further, and in 2023, she ultimately took her own life.
The court stated, "Mr. A committed the crime despite knowing that the victim, who trusted and followed him like an uncle, was in a mentally vulnerable state. Considering the number of offenses and the methods used, his actions are highly blameworthy."
The court further explained the sentencing, saying, "The victim suffered significant psychological and physical harm. Mr. A has completely denied the offenses, shown no remorse, and has made no effort to help the victim recover."
Meanwhile, Mr. A has appealed the first trial verdict.
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