Tenant Sentenced to 12 Years for Killing Manager by Arson Over 'Unpaid Rent'

"Taking Human Life Is Unacceptable"

Photo by Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hong Jae-hee] A tenant who set fire in a fit of anger after arguing over overdue rent and killed the manager was sentenced to a heavy prison term.

On the 23rd, the 12th Criminal Division of Jeonju District Court sentenced A, a tenant in his 60s who was detained on charges of arson causing death of an occupied building, to 12 years in prison.

A is accused of setting fire to a house he rented in Wansan-gu, Jeonju City on December 25 last year.

As a result of the fire, B (61, female), who was managing the house owned by her younger brother, suffered burns to her airway and died while being transported to the hospital.

Investigations revealed that A was paying a monthly rent of 250,000 won but had fallen behind by three months' rent totaling 750,000 won at the time of the fire, had several disputes with B, and set the fire in a fit of anger.

A claimed diminished mental capacity due to alcohol dependence syndrome, but the court did not recognize diminished capacity considering that he had normal conversations with investigators.

The court stated, "Crimes that take human lives cannot be tolerated for any reason," and "Punishment is inevitable as he did not sincerely reflect on his wrongdoing."

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