Embracing Rookie Female Officer's Face, Saying "Dear XX"... Police Executive Receives Suspended Sentence Again in Second Trial

A senior police officer at a district police station, who was charged with sexually harassing two rookie female officers in succession, was sentenced to 8 months in prison with a suspended sentence in the second trial as well.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A district police officer in a supervisory position, who was charged with sexually harassing two rookie female police officers consecutively, was sentenced to 8 months in prison with a suspended sentence in the second trial as well.

According to the Daejeon District Court on the 27th, the Criminal Appeals Division 1 (Chief Judge Yoon Seong-muk) dismissed both the prosecutor's and the defendant's appeals in the case against Mr. A (46) on charges of forcible sexual harassment. Previously, Mr. A was sentenced to 8 months in prison with a 2-year suspended sentence in the first trial.

In 2017, while working as a deputy team leader at a district police station in the Chungnam region, Mr. A is accused of covering the face of a rookie police officer who was in the probationary period (a process to learn duties before official appointment) and saying, "Dear XX, cheer up."

He is also accused of committing sexual harassment by holding another female officer's wrist for several tens of seconds, saying he needed to adjust the size of a watch strap for his wife.

The first trial court sentenced him to imprisonment, stating that Mr. A denied the intent of the crime, blamed the victims, and showed no signs of remorse.

Mr. A appealed, claiming, "Holding the face was meant as encouragement, and holding the wrist was only to buy a gift for my wife." The appeal also included a statement saying, "Even if that is not true, the sentence is too heavy." The prosecution appealed, arguing that "the sentence is too light."

The second trial court dismissed both parties' claims. The appellate court stated the reasons for sentencing, saying, "After thoroughly reviewing the original judgment, which rejected the defendant's claim of innocence, against the records, there are no illegal issues such as factual errors or misinterpretation of the law. The original sentence is also appropriate."

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