Court Sentences Defendant to 2 Years and 6 Months in Prison, Suspended for 4 Years
Probation and 120 Hours of Community Service Ordered
"Crime Committed Due to Financial Hardship," Says Defendant
A toy water gun disguised as a pistol with a black plastic bag over it during the robbery in Gijang County, Busan. Gijang Police Station, Busan
A man in his 30s who was put on trial for attempting a bank robbery with a toy dinosaur water gun covered in a plastic bag at a bank in Busan Metropolitan City has received a suspended sentence.
According to the legal community on May 26, the 1st Criminal Division of the Dongbu Branch of the Busan District Court (Chief Judge Lee Donggi) sentenced Mr. A, who was indicted on charges of attempted robbery, to two years and six months in prison, suspended for four years. The court also ordered probation and 120 hours of community service.
Mr. A was accused of attempting to rob a bank in Gijang County at 10:58 a.m. on February 10. At the time, Mr. A, who had covered his face with a knit cap and scarf, disguised a dinosaur-shaped toy water gun as a pistol by covering it with a black plastic bag and shouted at about 10 customers and employees in the bank, ordering everyone to go outside. He then demanded that an employee put all 50,000 won bills into a travel bag.
During this process, when Mr. A looked away, a citizen grabbed the gun and struggled with him. Several people, including bank employees, then rushed at Mr. A simultaneously, subdued him, and handed him over to the police. It was confirmed that the dinosaur-shaped toy water gun used in the crime belonged to Mr. A's eight-year-old son.
It was found that Mr. A committed the crime due to financial difficulties. He had reportedly been unemployed for five years and was in a difficult economic situation, having been evicted from his officetel for failing to pay utility bills, according to statements he gave to police during the investigation.
The court of first instance stated, "Although Mr. A used a toy to commit the crime, considering the circumstances at the time, it must have caused significant fear and shock to the employees and citizens in the bank," and added, "The fact that he did not reach a settlement with the victims is a disadvantageous factor."
However, the court also said, "The tool used in the crime was not actually dangerous, and the crime was committed due to financial hardship. There was no actual property damage. Mr. A is reflecting on his actions, and he has no prior criminal record. These factors were taken into account in determining the sentence."
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