30s Man Habitually Abusing Girlfriend's Son and Biological Mother Who Neglected to Report Both Given Suspended Sentences

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Ju Cheol-in] A man in his 30s who habitually abused his girlfriend's two biological sons and the biological mother who neglected them despite knowing about the abuse were both sentenced to suspended prison terms.

On the 18th, Judge Park Ji-yeon of the Changwon District Court Criminal Division 3 sentenced A (30), who was indicted in custody on charges of violating the Child Welfare Act (habitual child abuse), to two years in prison with a three-year suspension and ordered him to attend 40 hours of child abuse recidivism prevention lectures.

B (26), A’s girlfriend and the biological mother of the abused children, who was tried on charges of child abandonment and neglect under the Child Welfare Act, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison with a three-year suspension, along with probation and 120 hours of child abuse recidivism prevention lectures.

B, the biological mother of two sons aged three and one, began dating A in early July last year. A started physically abusing B’s biological sons under the pretext of discipline about two months after they began dating.

On September 22 last year, at B’s home in Gyeongnam, A grabbed B’s youngest son by the ankle and lifted him up because the child spilled milk on the blanket, then struck the sole of his foot five times with a shoehorn about 50 cm long, causing bruises.

In October of the same year, A assaulted B’s eldest and youngest sons twice in the same manner, citing reasons such as not listening or not eating well.

A’s violence worsened thereafter. On November 4, he grabbed B’s eldest son by the ankle, lifted him up, and struck his body multiple times with a shoehorn, causing bruises on his knees, both hands, shins, and thighs.

On November 6, while attempting to assault B’s eldest son again in the same way, the child struggled, and during the process of restraining him, A inflicted injuries including fractures requiring eight weeks of treatment.

On November 7, despite confirming that B’s eldest son, who was hit by A, had bruising and severe swelling on his right thigh and was unable to stand, A reportedly took no special measures.

B witnessed A’s violent acts against her biological sons but failed to take timely actions such as intervening or reporting.

A was arrested on charges of child abuse at the end of last year and detained for about six months before being released on bail in May while the first trial was ongoing. It is known that A submitted letters of apology to the court more than ten times after the trial began.

The court stated, “Child abuse crimes can have a fatal impact on the growth and development of victims who are physically and mentally immature, posing a great potential risk. Considering that these crimes are committed against vulnerable individuals who can hardly resist, the blameworthiness is very high. It appears that the children suffered considerable physical and mental pain due to the defendants’ actions.”

It added, “The sentence was determined considering that the defendants eventually took the abused children to the hospital for treatment and that family and acquaintances petitioned for leniency.”

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