Recent Symptoms of Suspected Delirium Worsen
Unauthorized Departure Again After Serving Sentence for Violating Nighttime Curfew
Jo Doo-soon, a child sex offender who previously served a three-month prison sentence last year for violating a nighttime curfew order, has now been prosecuted again for leaving his residence without permission four times during after-school hours. On the 26th, Yonhap News reported that the 1st Criminal Division of the Ansan Branch of Suwon District Court (Presiding Judge Ahn Hyo-seung) held the first trial for Jo Doo-soon, who was indicted without detention on charges including violating the Act on the Attachment of Electronic Devices.
Child sex offender Cho Doo-soon, who violated the curfew order by leaving his home at night, was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Act on Electronic Monitoring. Photo by Yonhap News.
Jo Doo-soon is accused of leaving his residence in a multi-family house in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, without authorization on four occasions between late March and early June this year, thereby violating the "after-school curfew order." His restricted hours for leaving the house are from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. (school commute hours), as well as from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. the following day (nighttime hours).
Jo Doo-soon is also charged with damaging his location-tracking electronic device inside his home. After the judge confirmed Jo Doo-soon's identity and asked, "Have you received the indictment?" Jo briefly answered, "Yes." When the judge then asked, "Do you wish for a jury trial?" Jo replied, "A national card?" prompting his attorney to explain the question to him. Jo, who appeared to have hearing difficulties, wore a headset during the proceedings but often had to ask the judge to repeat questions or relied on his attorney for clarification.
On this day, Jo Doo-soon was not exposed to the media or the public, as he was escorted directly from the prosecutor's office to the defendant's waiting room in the courthouse, bypassing the main entrance. The prosecution explained the charges-Jo's unauthorized departure from his residence and the damage to his electronic monitoring device this year-and stated that, due to his mental illness, treatment and protective custody are necessary. When asked by the judge for his opinion on the charges, Jo replied, "I will accept whatever the court decides. I have nothing to say and will reflect on my actions."
The court decided to continue the trial, noting that although Jo Doo-soon confessed to some of the charges during the investigation, he did not fully admit to all allegations, stating, "I never left the house," and denying intentional damage to the electronic device. Since early this year, Jo has reportedly shown symptoms of mental disturbance, presumed to be delirium, and his condition has recently worsened. After his wife left their home earlier this year, Jo has been living alone, with a probation officer visiting in the mornings and evenings to provide daily necessities and assist with his living arrangements. In June, the Ansan Probation Office, considering Jo's mental health issues, requested a court order for psychiatric evaluation. The National Forensic Hospital conducted a psychiatric assessment at the end of July and concluded that treatment and protective custody were necessary.
Jo Doo-soon was sentenced to 12 years in prison for kidnapping, sexually assaulting, and seriously injuring an elementary school student in front of a church in Ansan in December 2008, and was released on December 12, 2020. On December 4, 2023, at around 9:05 p.m., he was sentenced to three months in prison for violating the "no nighttime outings after 9 p.m." order.
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