He had served 14 years in prison for murder and previous sexual assaults.
koreaboo
Content warning
This article includes descriptions of sexual violence which might disturb some readers.
In a shocking case that has shocked South Korea, a 48-year-old man has been convicted of sexually assaulting his elderly mother, shortly after serving a prison sentence for previous violent crimes.
The incident occurred in Incheon, where the man (identified only as “A”) attacked his 70-year-old mother at her residence. The attack occurred just two months after A was released from a 14-year prison sentence for crimes including murder and previous sexual assaults.
Court documents reveal that the attack was triggered when A’s mother refused his request to visit a columbarium together. This refusal apparently led to the brutal attack on September 8 of the previous year.
The case took a dramatic turn in the appeals process. Initially sentenced to 18 years by the Incheon District Court, Mr. A now faces 25 years behind bars following a ruling by the Seoul High Court. The increased sentence reflects the severity of the crime and the defendant’s history of violence.
Prosecutors highlighted A’s criminal behavior, noting that he had also attempted to rape a cousin and threatened his daughter’s partner in the same three-month period following his release.
The court’s decision to increase the sentence came after both the prosecution and the defendant appealed against the original verdict. While the lower court had considered A’s obvious mental health issues in sentencing them, the High Court prioritised the heinous nature of the crimes and the need for a more severe punishment.
The alarming case has reignited discussions in South Korea about recidivism rates and the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in rehabilitating offenders. It has also raised questions about the support and protection available to vulnerable family members of individuals with histories of violence.
Share this post
