Cheonan City Council Member Lee Jongdam Acquitted in First Trial on Forcible Molestation Charges

Court States "Difficult to Prove Intent"

Lee Jongdam, a member of the Cheonan City Council in South Chungcheong Province who was indicted on charges of forcibly molesting a fellow council member, was acquitted in the first trial.

On the 13th, the Criminal Division 1 of the Cheonan Branch of the Daejeon District Court acquitted Lee of the charge of forcible molestation.

The prosecution had requested a sentence of eight months in prison.

Lee was indicted on charges of pressing a specific part of a female council member's body with his elbow while council members were taking a group photo in the main chamber of the Cheonan City Council in January of last year.

The court explained the reason for the acquittal by stating, "Although the defendant's actions may constitute molestation, it is difficult to prove intent."

Meanwhile, after the molestation issue surfaced, Lee left the Democratic Party of Korea. In June of last year, the council decided to suspend Lee from attending council sessions for 30 days, with 17 votes in favor and 8 against out of 25 council members present at the regular session.

Immediately after the disciplinary action, Lee applied for a stay of execution with the court. However, the Supreme Court dismissed the request in January of this year, resulting in Lee being restricted from council activities from January 2 to January 28.