Former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don Sentenced in First Trial Today... 'Accidental' or 'Planned', Aggravated Sexual Assault Also at Issue

Former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don, who was indicted on charges of forced molestation causing injury, is entering the courtroom at the Busan District Court on the morning of the 21st to attend the sentencing hearing. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporters Kim Yong-woo and Lee Sang-hyun] The first trial sentencing hearing for former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don, who was indicted on charges including forced molestation causing injury, will be held on the morning of the 29th at the Busan District Court.

Former Mayor Oh admitted to forcibly molesting a female employee in April last year and will face legal judgment about 1 year and 2 months after stepping down from his mayoral position.

The Busan District Court Criminal Division 6 (Presiding Judge Ryu Seung-woo) will conduct the sentencing hearing for former Mayor Oh, who was indicted on charges including forced molestation and forced molestation causing injury, on the morning of that day.

At the sentencing hearing held on the 21st, the prosecution demanded a 7-year prison sentence for former Mayor Oh. The prosecution applied charges including forced molestation, attempted forced molestation, forced molestation causing injury, and false accusation against him.

The prosecution stated, "The defendant abused his position and power as mayor and committed a power-based sexual crime lacking gender sensitivity," and requested a heavy sentence from the court.

The key issue in the sentencing is whether the court will apply only the forced molestation charge or also recognize the forced molestation causing injury charge.

The forced molestation charge carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, while forced molestation causing injury carries a heavier sentence of at least 5 years in prison.

The prosecution regarded the victim's mental trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, as injury and specified the 'causing injury' charge in the indictment.

Former Mayor Oh's defense acknowledges the forced molestation charge but argues that the causing injury charge is an excessive prosecution by the prosecution.

Additionally, the court's judgment on whether former Mayor Oh's crime was impulsive or premeditated is expected to influence the sentencing outcome.

The prosecution considers it a planned crime by former Mayor Oh, while his defense claims it was a sudden 'surprise molestation.'

Former Mayor Oh is accused of forcibly molesting subordinate employee A in November 2018 and attempting to molest A again in December of the same year but failing.

He is also accused of molesting employee B in his mayoral office in April last year and causing injuries including post-traumatic stress disorder.

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