'Jo Joo-bin Accomplice' Han Mo Sentenced to 13 Years in Second Trial... 2 Years Longer Than First Trial

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Han Mo (28), an accomplice of Jo Joo-bin, the operator of the Telegram 'Baksa Room,' was sentenced to 13 years in prison in the second trial. This is 2 years longer than the 11-year sentence given in the first trial.

At 2 p.m. on the 9th, the Criminal Division 8 of the Seoul High Court (Chief Judge Bae Hyung-won) sentenced Han to 13 years in prison for violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse (rape) and other charges. They also ordered a 5-year employment restriction at child and disabled-related facilities, completion of a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program, and a 5-year public notification of personal information. The prosecution's request for an electronic monitoring device (electronic anklet) attachment order was dismissed.

The court stated, "The defendant joined the Baksa Room organization and directly met victims as young as 15 years old, committed sexual crimes, and even filmed and distributed the scenes, which is a serious offense. Considering the sentences of other accomplices, the 11-year sentence given by the first trial to the defendant, who played a key role in the Baksa Room, seems light."

However, Han's charge of organizing a criminal group was not recognized as guilty, as in the first trial. The court mentioned, "Jo Joo-bin explained the creation process of the Baksa Room through the Telegram channel, but there was no mention of the defendant's role, and it was introduced that the defendant joined as enthusiastic users increased." This implies that when Han joined, the criminal group organized by Jo Joo-bin and Kang Hoon as administrators was already complete. Nevertheless, the court added, "It is sufficiently recognized that Han later joined and was active in it."

Regarding the defendant's claim that he "did not act as a member of the Baksa Room," the court rejected it, stating, "In the ranking system conducted in the Baksa Room, the defendant was very active, ranking fifth in points among all members." They also pointed out that he participated in events where he shared 'impressions' with other members and exhibited videos he had produced in the past.

Previously, Han was prosecuted for attempting to rape a juvenile victim under Jo's instructions, sexually abusing the victim by forcing obscene acts, and filming and distributing these acts in the Baksa Room. He was also charged with organizing and operating the Baksa Room as a criminal group along with Jo and others.

In the last closing argument, the prosecution requested the court to sentence Han to 20 years in prison, as in the first trial. The prosecution emphasized, "Han joined and was active in the Baksa Room from September 2019 and organized a criminal group with key figures." They argued that the first trial's judgment of not guilty on the criminal group organization charge was incorrect.

Furthermore, they stated, "The damage to the young victims has not been recovered at all and will not be easily recovered in the future. Considering the rapid spread of victim videos and personal information on the internet, which aggravates the damage, severe punishment is inevitable."

On the other hand, Han's defense attorney argued in the final statement that "the first trial's judgment that the defendant was a member of the organization is a factual error," and Han himself said, "Please look at the crimes I committed without exaggeration and only as they are."

The first trial sentenced Han to 11 years in prison but did not recognize the charge of organizing a criminal group and dismissed the request for an electronic monitoring device attachment order.

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