40s Man Jailed 9 Months for Indecent Acts on Express Bus... Appeal Claiming Mental Incapacity Dismissed

Express Bus Terminal. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] A man in his 40s who was prosecuted for committing an obscene act on an express bus in Jeonnam was sentenced to the same prison term in the appellate court as in the first trial.

On the 19th, the 2nd Criminal Division of Gwangju District Court (Chief Judge Kim Jinman) announced that it dismissed the appeal of Mr. A (48), who was indicted for public obscenity and sentenced to 9 months in prison in the first trial.

The court also upheld the original ruling requiring Mr. A to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program and imposed a three-year employment restriction at child and youth-related institutions and welfare facilities for the disabled.

Mr. A was prosecuted for committing an obscene act by turning his body diagonally toward the aisle and exposing his private parts while looking at a female student sitting diagonally in front of him on an express bus in a region of Jeonnam for 15 minutes from 1:30 p.m. on September 26 last year.

In the appellate trial, Mr. A claimed diminished mental capacity, but the court ruled, "It is not recognized that he was in a state of diminished capacity to distinguish objects or make decisions at the time of the crime."

The court rejected Mr. A's claim of unfair sentencing, considering his prior convictions for sexual offenses, his reoffense during the recidivism period for sexual crimes, and the fact that the victim appeared to have suffered considerable psychological trauma.

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