A man who assaulted a video journalist during the Western District Court riot has been sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial.
Supporters of former President Yoon Seokyeol are confronting police near the rear gate of the court during the Western District Court riot. Photo by Yonhap News
On June 25, Park Jiweon, chief judge of the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Western District Court, sentenced Moon (33), who was tried on charges including special trespassing and aggravated assault, to one year and two months in prison, suspended for three years.
Judge Park stated, "At the time of the court intrusion, it is difficult to see that the defendant intended to exert collective force since he merely observed from the back of the crowd with both hands in his pockets." However, the judge also said, "The defendant assaulted a victim, whom he did not know, simply because the victim was a media employee, and continues to deny the court intrusion for unreasonable reasons. This makes the nature of the crime particularly egregious."
Moon was indicted on charges of knocking down and assaulting a video journalist filming in front of the court during the Western District Court riot on January 19, causing injuries that required two weeks of medical treatment, threatening the victim, and taking the camera's memory card.
Meanwhile, on the same day, Kim Minjeong, judge of the Criminal Division 9 of the Seoul Western District Court, sentenced Han (72) and Jeong (38), who were indicted on charges including special trespassing and destruction of special public property, to two years and six months in prison and two years in prison, respectively. They were found to have entered the court during the Western District Court riot, wielded fire extinguishers, or worn special gloves to destroy court property.
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