Man in His 30s Sentenced to Prison for Causing Cat Deaths by Dropping Them from 8th-Floor Apartment

Eight-Month Prison Sentence, 40 Hours of Mandatory Education
Court: "Severe Punishment for Disregard of Life"

A man in his 30s has been sentenced to prison after adopting cats while violating the Electronic Monitoring Act and causing their deaths by dropping them from the 8th floor of an apartment building.

Sweet potatoes and pumpkins before being sent for adoption to Mr. A. Provided by Animal Rights Action Kara

According to Animal Rights Action Kara on December 12, the Criminal Division 2 of the Namyangju Branch of the Uijeongbu District Court (Judge Sim Jaekwang) sentenced Mr. A to eight months in prison and immediate detention for violating the Electronic Monitoring Act and the Animal Protection Act. The court also ordered him to complete 40 hours of animal abuse recidivism prevention education.

Mr. A was brought to trial on charges of causing the deaths of two cats by dropping them from the window of his 8th-floor apartment the day after adopting them from an acquaintance. Prior to being charged with violating the Animal Protection Act, Mr. A was already on trial for violating the Electronic Monitoring Act, and the two cases were consolidated for trial.

The court stated, "The defendant was previously ordered to wear an electronic monitoring device due to a sex crime conviction and was required to complete a sex offender treatment program. However, he repeatedly skipped the program without permission, citing reasons such as oversleeping. Subsequently, he demonstrated a disregard for life by causing the deaths of cats by dropping them from the 8th floor of his apartment." The court added, "However, the sentencing took into account the defendant's intellectual disability."

Mr. A appealed the first trial verdict. Yoon Sungmo, an activist at Kara who reported Mr. A, said, "The two cats, who were waiting for a new family after being adopted, were killed in a cruel manner, and despite facing additional criminal charges, the sentence in the first trial is excessively lenient. Since he appealed without showing remorse, a much harsher punishment should be imposed in the second trial."