US Soldier Kicking Police Car Door While Swearing... Fined 5 Million Won in First Trial

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Taewon] The court has sentenced an active-duty US soldier to a fine for kicking and damaging the right rear door of a police patrol car.

According to the legal community on the 14th, Judge Kang Seongsu of the Criminal Division 1 at the Seoul Western District Court sentenced US soldier A (23), who was indicted on charges of damaging public property, to a fine of 5 million won. The court stated, "He must bear appropriate responsibility for kicking and damaging the rear door of the patrol car while being caught in the act," but also considered "his remorseful attitude and the fact that he has no prior criminal record for similar offenses" as reasons for sentencing.

A was prosecuted for kicking and damaging a patrol car belonging to the Hongik Police Substation, which had responded to a reported assault incident in Mapo-gu, Seoul, at around 3:46 a.m. on October 8 last year. It was investigated that at the time of his arrest, he refused to answer police questions about his personal information, got into the rear seat of the patrol car, cursed, and kicked the car door multiple times.

A was also indicted on charges of repeatedly punching a Korean person in the face while drinking at a club in Mapo-gu at around 9:40 a.m. on September 25 last year. However, the court dismissed this charge as the victim expressed a desire not to press charges. A dismissal of prosecution is a procedure in which the court terminates the trial without substantive judgment because the prosecution's indictment is invalid under the law.

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