Sergeant Lee Yeram's 'Secondary Harm' Air Force Warrant Officer... 2-Year Prison Sentence Confirmed

Threatened to Prevent Sexual Harassment Report... "You Could Get Hurt Too"
Acquitted of Forced Molestation and Retaliatory Threats... Only 'Forced Interview' Convicted

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The superior officer of the late Sergeant Lee Yeram, who committed secondary harm by threatening her not to report the sexual crime victimization, has been confirmed guilty.

The Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice Oh Kyung-mi) on the 16th upheld the original sentence of two years imprisonment in the appeal trial of Warrant Officer Noh, who was charged with retaliatory threats under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and forcible molestation of a soldier.

Warrant Officer Noh, who was serving at the Air Force 20th Fighter Wing, received a report of the sexual harassment incident from Sergeant Lee the day after the incident last March. He threatened her by saying, "Punishment of others is inevitable, and everyone present will be affected. You could also get hurt," preventing her from reporting and committing secondary harm. Noh is also accused of forcibly molesting Sergeant Lee in July 2020 by putting his arm around her shoulder.

The first trial at the Ministry of National Defense Ordinary Military Court acquitted him of forcible molestation and retaliatory threats. However, it found him guilty of the alternative charge of coercive interview and sentenced him to two years imprisonment. According to the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, anyone who, without justifiable reason, coerces or exerts power over a person who knows necessary facts related to the investigation or trial of a criminal case of oneself or others is subject to imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 3 million won.

The second trial upheld the first trial's judgment. The Supreme Court also agreed that the second trial's judgment was correct.

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