Drunk 30s Man Assaults Taxi Driver, Steals Car, Causes Accident, Sentenced to 3 Years Imprisonment

Court Orders Compensation of 9.7 Million Won for Car Repair Costs and Others

On the 14th, Jeong Su-young, Chief Judge of the Criminal Division 3 at Chuncheon District Court, sentenced Lee Mo (32), who was indicted for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, the Road Traffic Act, and theft, to three years in prison and ordered him to pay approximately 9.7 million won for medical expenses and vehicle repair costs.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A man in his 30s who assaulted a taxi driver in his 70s while intoxicated and stole the taxi, causing an accident, was sentenced to prison.

On the 14th, Judge Jung Soo-young of the Chuncheon District Court Criminal Division 3 sentenced Lee (32), who was indicted on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, violating the Road Traffic Act, and theft, to three years in prison and ordered him to pay approximately 9.7 million won for medical and vehicle repair expenses.

On the early morning of June 7, Lee, intoxicated, took a taxi driven by Mr. A (72) in front of an elementary school in Chuncheon.

When Mr. A asked Lee for his destination, Lee, feeling upset, got out of the taxi, kicked the front passenger seat, and sat on the taxi’s hood. When Mr. A reversed the car, Lee punched the hood, cursed, and struck Mr. A’s face five times.

Furthermore, after Mr. A got out of the taxi and left the scene, Lee drove the taxi about 300 meters, left the gear in the drive (D) position, and abandoned the vehicle. At that time, Lee’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.256%, exceeding the license cancellation level. The abandoned taxi crossed the center line and collided with a traffic signal pole installed at a crosswalk, causing an accident.

The court explained the sentencing by considering "the significant personal, material, and psychological damage caused to the taxi driver who drives for a living, the fact that no restitution has been made and the victim has not forgiven him, and that Lee has one prior DUI conviction and multiple prior violent offenses."

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