"‘I Will Infect You with COVID-19’: 50s Man Sentenced for Spitting on Hospital Security Guard"

Court. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Min Jun-young] A man in his 50s who spat at a hospital security guard claiming to be a suspected case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) was sentenced to prison.

The Daejeon District Court Criminal Division 7 (Judge Song Jin-ho) announced on the 20th that it sentenced A (55), who was prosecuted on charges of assault for spitting at a hospital security guard while threatening to spread COVID-19, to three months in prison.

The court stated, "The act of spreading an acute infectious disease that is rampant nationwide and worldwide caused fear and anxiety among many people," and added, "The criminal nature is severe as the defendant threatened the victim who was performing their duties to stop unauthorized acts."

However, the court explained the sentencing by saying, "Consideration was given to favorable circumstances such as admitting the crime and showing remorse."

A was previously prosecuted for causing a disturbance while intoxicated at a university hospital in Jung-gu, Daejeon, around 4:05 p.m. on March 28, and for verbally abusing and spitting on the face and clothes of a security guard who tried to restrain him.

After being transported to the hospital by a 119 ambulance, A shouted, "I have symptoms of COVID-19 infection. I will infect everyone," but it was confirmed that he was not actually a COVID-19 patient.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.