"Husband Suspects Wife's Affair Due to Bleach Smell on Toothbrush, Spies on KakaoTalk; Suspended Sentence in Appeal Trial"

'Husband Who Checked Wife's KakaoTalk Suspecting Affair Receives Suspended Sentence
Wife Charged with Giving Husband Bleach... 1-Year Prison Sentence with 2-Year Probation'

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Park] The second trial court suspended the sentence for a man in his 40s who was prosecuted for viewing KakaoTalk conversations on suspicion of his wife's infidelity. His wife was sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year probation in the appeal trial for attempting to harm her husband by making him drink bleach.

The 2nd Criminal Division of Daegu High Court (Judge Yang Young-hee) on the 15th suspended the sentence for Mr. A (47), the husband indicted for violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc. (Information and Communications Network Infringement), maintaining the original trial's decision. However, the court overturned the original acquittal on the charge of violating the Protection of Communications Secrets Act and found him guilty.

When sentencing imprisonment or detention of one year or less, disqualification, or a fine, the court may suspend the sentence if there are remarkable circumstances of repentance.

Mr. A is accused of viewing KakaoTalk conversations exchanged between his wife, Mrs. B (46), and her friend Mr. C while she was asleep at their residence in September 2014 (Information and Communications Network Infringement), and of secretly recording phone calls between his wife and her friend by installing a camera with a recording function (violation of the Protection of Communications Secrets Act).

Suspecting his wife's infidelity, Mr. A viewed KakaoTalk conversations between his wife and Mr. C, confirming messages such as "Let's go to a nursing home together when we get old," inquiries about sending messages during Chuseok, and arrangements to meet.

The court stated, "Considering the method and content of the crime, including entering the phone password while the wife was asleep to view KakaoTalk conversations and secretly recording phone calls with a friend, the culpability cannot be considered light." However, it explained the sentencing reasons by adding, "The defendant admitted the facts of the crime and it appears to have been committed impulsively. There are mitigating circumstances regarding the motive and circumstances, and the wife submitted a withdrawal of the accusation and a letter of no punishment against the defendant."

Meanwhile, on the 14th, the 3-3 Criminal Division of Daegu District Court (Chief Judge Sung Kyung-hee) overturned the original trial and sentenced Mrs. B, who was charged with attempted special injury for spraying bleach on her husband's toothbrush, to one year in prison with a two-year probation.

This charge surfaced after Mr. A, diagnosed with gastritis and esophagitis through a health checkup, noticed a bleach smell from his toothbrush and found two additional bottles of mold remover bleach he had never seen before. Feeling something was wrong, he installed a recording device.

The recording captured sounds of something being sprayed in the bathroom along with muttering such as "I won't die," "I really want to soak it in bleach water," and "I have to watch for months." It also recorded Mrs. B talking on the phone with a friend, seemingly discussing sexual relations with another man.

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