When a Check Card Shows 'Insufficient Balance,' "Let's Go on a Date, Mister"... Taxi Driver Commits Forced Molestation

Court Sentences Taxi Driver to 1 Year Imprisonment with Suspension

A taxi driver who committed quasi-rape by suggesting a date after a female passenger’s check card showed ‘insufficient balance’ was sentenced to a suspended prison term.

According to the legal community on the 10th, the Gwangju District Court’s 11th Criminal Division (Presiding Judge Go Sang-yeong) sentenced taxi driver A, who was tried on charges of quasi-rape and forced molestation, to one year in prison with a two-year suspension yesterday. He was also ordered to attend 40 hours of sexual violence treatment lectures.

In the early morning around 4 a.m. last August in Dong-gu, Gwangju, A picked up B (20) in his taxi. After arriving at the destination, B presented a check card for payment, but the card was declined due to insufficient balance.

Seeing B flustered, A told her to move to the front passenger seat. He then forcibly molested B’s arms, legs, and private areas, and said, “Let’s go on a date with me,” moving the taxi to a parking lot.

Afterwards, inside the taxi, A inserted his hand inside B’s clothes and committed quasi-rape. Although B clearly expressed refusal and pushed A away with both arms, A overpowered her by force and continued the act.

The court found A guilty of these crimes but exempted him from public disclosure of his identity and employment restrictions. The court stated, “A’s guilt is not light, and the victim must have felt great fear and sexual shame from this crime.”

However, the court also explained the sentencing reasons, saying, “Considering that A has no prior record of similar offenses, that the victim reached a settlement and does not want A to be punished, and that A admitted all charges and is remorseful, the sentence was determined accordingly.”

Taxi Driver Who Molested a Teenage Girl While Saying “I’ll Help You Get Out” Also Sentenced

Meanwhile, in May, a 50-year-old taxi driver who molested a teenage girl while saying he would help her get out of the taxi was also sentenced to prison. The Daejeon District Court’s 1st Criminal Division (Presiding Judge Na Kyung-seon) sentenced C (54), who was charged with forced molestation, to eight months in prison.

This incident occurred around 1 a.m. on May 2 last year in Seo-gu, Daejeon. When D (18) tried to get out of the taxi after arriving at her destination, C grabbed her hand, saying he would help her get out. He then dragged D into an alley and molested her by hugging her.

The first trial court sentenced him to 10 months in prison, stating, “Considering the considerable fear and shame the victim felt after being assaulted by a stranger taxi driver in a deserted alley late at night, the crime is serious.” However, C appealed the first trial verdict, and his sentence was reduced as he wished.

Regarding this, the appellate court stated, “The taxi driver, who should prioritize the safety of passengers, committed a molestation crime against a teenage female passenger, which is a serious offense,” but also noted, “He deposited 10 million won to compensate the victim, is a first-time offender who shows remorse, and has to support his elderly mother.”

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