Unlicensed Drunk Driving Hit-and-Run and Driver Swap: 50s Sentenced to Prison with Probation

Unlicensed Driver Repeatedly Causes Accidents Due to Drunk Driving
"Let's Change Drivers," Passenger Friend Suggests
Exits Through Front Passenger Seat and Flees Scene

A man in his 50s who repeatedly drove under the influence without a license, caused an accident, and fled the scene by switching drivers at the suggestion of a friend riding with him was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial.

According to the legal community on the 26th, Judge Kang Min-ho of Criminal Division 10 at the Seoul Central District Court recently sentenced A (53), who was indicted on charges including hit-and-run causing injury under the Act on Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, failure to take measures after an accident, aiding and abetting a criminal, and unlicensed driving under the Road Traffic Act, to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 2-year suspension. He was also ordered to perform 160 hours of community service and attend 40 hours of a safe driving course.

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According to the prosecution, on January 7, 2021, at 9:40 p.m., A was driving a vehicle with his friend B for about 2 km on a one-way four-lane road in Jongno-gu, Seoul, when he collided with a motorcycle waiting at a traffic signal. They fled the scene, leaving the injured motorcyclist on the road.

When another motorcyclist who witnessed the accident honked and shouted while chasing them, A turned into a narrow alley. However, the path was blocked by an oncoming vehicle.

At the time, A was still within the probation period of a suspended prison sentence for a previous drunk driving offense and had repeatedly driven under the influence without a license. Knowing this, B suggested switching drivers as if he had been driving.

Afterward, B got out of the car first and approached the oncoming witness, saying, "We can settle this with money, just pay a fine." Meanwhile, A moved inside the vehicle, got out through the passenger door, and secretly escaped through the alley. B also delayed the police officers who arrived by claiming, "I was the one driving."

When apprehended by the investigation authorities, they initially denied the accident, claiming they did not know about it or that they had entered the alley to park, but later admitted all charges in court. Since the breathalyzer test and other procedures were not conducted in time, the drunk driving charge against A was dropped.

The court found A and B guilty of the charges. It stated, "A committed a repeat offense during the probation period of a suspended prison sentence for drunk driving. After causing the accident, he fled, and the victim could have been left on the road," and "B’s act of aiding and abetting the criminal caused confusion in the initial investigation, preventing a proper inquiry into A."

However, the court added, "Considering that A and B admitted to the crime in court and that the victim who reached a settlement does not wish to press charges." B, who was also indicted for aiding and abetting a criminal, was fined 5 million won.

Since neither A, B, nor the prosecution appealed, the first trial verdict was finalized as is.

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