"False Report Due to Disliking Father"... 40s Cleared of Charges Including Daughter's Sexual Assault and Neighbor's Attempted Rape

'False Accusation' (CG)
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[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] A man in his 40s, who was prosecuted for forcibly molesting his biological daughter and attempting to sexually assault a neighbor, was acquitted in the appellate court, clearing his name.

On the 11th, the Criminal Division 1 of the Changwon Branch of the Busan High Court (Chief Judge Kim Jin-seok) announced that it overturned the first trial's verdict, which sentenced A (41) to five years in prison for violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (rape and injury), and acquitted him.

A was accused of approaching his biological daughter B (13), who was sleeping at their home in Geoje City around 2:30 a.m. on May 15, 2018, putting his hand inside her shirt to touch her body, and when B woke up startled, he reassured her by saying, "I thought you were my girlfriend," before molesting her again.

A was also charged with forcibly molesting her again the next day using a similar method.

However, B changed her testimony in court. She stated, "I reported my grandfather because I disliked my father, and I thought if I reported my father as well, he might reflect on his actions. The false testimony was fabricated as I recalled it, and there was no special reason."

Previously, the first trial court pointed out, "The victim's testimony is virtually the only direct evidence, but it lacks credibility, and the other evidence submitted by the prosecution is insufficient to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt."

The court also cited as reasons for the verdict that B posted on social media on May 17 about being sexually assaulted by her grandfather but stated she did not remember the incidents from a day or two earlier; that her statements to the police lacked detail, but six months later her statements to the prosecution were more specific; and that she might have given false testimony out of anger because she felt her family was prioritized over herself when she was forced to study and told to delete social media posts.

Meanwhile, at the appellate trial, A was also acquitted of the attempted rape charge involving a neighbor’s wife on February 6, 2018. Overwhelmed with emotion, A tearfully expressed gratitude, putting his grievances behind him.

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