Feeding Baduk Stones and "Are You Really Eating?"... Military's Worst Abuse Case Officer Receives Suspended Sentence

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] A military officer who repeatedly committed abusive acts, such as ordering soldiers to eat Go stones and drawing on their bodies with a marker pen, was sentenced to probation again in the appellate court.

On the 26th, the 1st Criminal Division of the Jeonju Branch of the Gwangju High Court (Chief Judge Kim Sung-joo) dismissed the prosecutor's appeal in the appellate trial of Mr. A (27), who was charged with special assault by a military officer in the performance of duty and abusive acts using authority, maintaining the original sentence of one year in prison with two years of probation.

Earlier, Mr. A, who served as a sergeant in an army division, was indicted for repeatedly assaulting Corporal B, who was on duty in the situation room, with dangerous objects around 11 a.m. on June 27 last year.

He was also charged with ordering B to "eat Go stones" inside the military living quarters around 10:30 a.m. on August 27 of the same year. Following Mr. A's order, B reluctantly put a white Go stone in his mouth, and upon seeing this, Mr. A said, "You really eat it?" and assaulted B once again.

In addition, Mr. A cut the leg hair of victims B and C with an electric shaver, forcibly laid B down, and drew pictures on B’s body from below the navel to the chest area with a computer marker pen. He also drew pictures on B’s arm using a rechargeable electric screwdriver, repeatedly committing abusive acts.

Investigations revealed that Mr. A also threatened B and C to prevent them from recording his abusive acts in a survey about military abuse.

The first trial court stated, "The defendant severely disrupted the sound life and military discipline of the military community," and sentenced him to one year in prison with two years of probation.

The prosecutor appealed on the grounds of inappropriate sentencing, but the appellate court also dismissed the appeal, stating, "Considering that there are no significant changes in the sentencing conditions between the original and appellate trials, and that the defendant used most of his military retirement pay for settlement, the original sentence appears to be within a reasonable discretionary range."

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