Forwarded to Prosecution for Property Damage
Ms. A: "I Had No Intention of Taking Anyone's Property"
In Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, a woman in her 30s was sued for property damage after she tore down a poster in an apartment elevator, citing her baby's safety as the reason.
According to the Gimpo Police Station in Gyeonggi on August 20, Ms. A was using the elevator with her child on June 27 when she saw her child reaching for the poster and, thinking there was a risk of injury, removed the posting. She believed it was not a big deal, as the poster consisted of several overlapping A4 sheets and did not have the apartment management office's official seal.
However, the owner of the poster raised an issue and filed a property damage complaint against Ms. A. The police reviewed CCTV footage, confirmed Ms. A's actions, and determined that the case constituted property damage, subsequently forwarding it to the prosecution.
It was only after the incident that Ms. A learned the poster in question contained the position of a specific resident regarding a conflict among apartment residents. The conflict was so intense that even the management office could not intervene, but Ms. A, busy caring for her three children, had been completely unaware of the situation.
Ms. A expressed her frustration, saying, "I simply removed it as if taking down an illegal flyer. I never imagined I would become a criminal. I had no intention of disregarding or taking someone else's property." The police stated that, since the complainant considered the poster valuable and it was damaged, the requirements for property damage were met. "We understand Ms. A's position, but it was difficult to conclude that no crime had been committed," they said.
The apartment manager and the building representative, after hearing Ms. A's explanation, tried to persuade the complainant to withdraw the complaint, but ultimately, the withdrawal did not occur.
Similar cases have occurred in the past. In May of last year in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, a middle school student was booked by the police for tearing down a poster in an elevator. However, since the poster was covering the mirror and there was no intent, the student was found not guilty.
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