Yelled Loudly and Pretended to Hit
Sentenced to 6 Months in Prison, 2 Years Probation
The director of a private academy who emotionally abused a 7-year-old student after being notified of the child's intention to quit the academy has been sentenced to a suspended prison term.
On May 25, Yonhap News reported that the 3rd Criminal Division of the Busan District Court Dongbu Branch, presided over by Chief Judge Noh Haengnam, sentenced academy director A to six months in prison, suspended for two years, for violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes.
Director A was brought to trial on charges of emotionally abusing a 7-year-old student, B, on June 3 of last year, both in the academy vehicle and inside the academy. Prior to this, on May 29 of last year, B's mother, after hearing from B that "the academy is scary," informed A of her intention to withdraw B from the academy, citing a scheduling conflict with English academy classes. In response, A is accused of repeatedly yelling at B in the academy vehicle, saying, "You're quitting the academy, so why did you take my book?"
On the same day, inside the academy, A made B stand and said, "Which English academy do you go to? I know where your house is, so tell me quickly before I destroy it." A then called the English academy that B attended to find out B's class schedule and subsequently called B's parents, saying, "It looks like the English academy schedule hasn't changed." A also shouted at B, saying, "(Your mom) is lying," pretended to hit B by raising a fist, and when B cried, said, "Cry as much as you want."
The court stated, "As an academy director, the defendant committed emotional abuse that affected the mental health and development of children whom he was supposed to protect." Regarding sentencing, the court explained, "The defendant has not received forgiveness from the victim or the victim's family, and although 1 million won was deposited, it does not appear that any sincere effort was made to remedy the harm."
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