[Exclusive] Child Sex Offender Who Avoided Identity Disclosure Sentenced to 11 More Years for Sex Crimes After Release

1996 Child Sexual Crime Probation Before New Disclosure Introduction
1999 Murder and Corpse Abandonment 20 Years Imprisonment
Arrested and Prosecuted for Sexual Crime One Year After Release

A child sex offender who committed murder and corpse abandonment during a suspended sentence period was sentenced to 11 years in prison after being rearrested and prosecuted for sexual assault one year after his release. Since his previous crimes occurred before the introduction of the sex offender disclosure and electronic monitoring device (electronic anklet) systems, those around him were unaware of his past actions.

According to the legal community on the 2nd, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 11-2 (Presiding Judges Kim Young-hoon, Kim Jae-ryeong, Song Hye-jung) recently sentenced Choi Mo (56), who was charged with violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act and the Stalking Punishment Act, to 11 years in prison along with orders for 10 years of personal information disclosure notification and electronic anklet attachment. After release, he will live under probation with restricted residence and is ordered never to contact or approach the victim first. He was also ordered to complete 80 hours of sexual violence treatment programs and banned from employment at child and disability institutions for 10 years.

The court stated, "The victim consistently explained the crime process at every stage. The details were very specific and vivid to the extent that it would be difficult to describe if not experienced. The victim has no particular grudge or reason to file a false accusation or risk perjury," and found all charges guilty. The fact that the crime was committed during the recidivism period (within 3 years after sentence completion or exemption) was also considered.

Earlier, Choi was brought to trial for allegedly calling the victim to his home in the early morning of September 15 last year and sexually assaulting her. During this, he repeatedly hit the victim’s face, causing injuries requiring six weeks of medical treatment. Despite the victim’s demand to "stop contacting me," he sent dozens of threatening messages, stalking her. During the trial, Choi admitted to assault and stalking but denied the sexual assault charges. He also submitted various petitions and letters of remorse to the court. Meanwhile, the victim’s side appealed, "We learned of the defendant’s criminal record after this incident. The victim is experiencing extreme fear, worrying about possible retaliation after his release."

According to investigative authorities, 28 years ago in 1996, he committed a sex crime against a 9-year-old child and was sentenced to 3 years in prison with a 4-year suspended sentence for rape and injury. At that time, consideration was given because he reached a settlement with the child’s parents. During the suspended sentence period in 1999, he hit a woman in her 30s while driving under the influence, and to avoid punishment, he murdered and abandoned her, facing trial again. The first trial sentenced him to life imprisonment, but the second trial reduced it to 20 years in prison, reflecting his difficult upbringing.

He was rearrested and prosecuted for the current charges less than a year after his release in September 2020. He received state-certified qualification training for employment and met the victim at the training center. Neither the victim, those around her, nor the training center knew of Choi’s criminal record because his past child sex crimes occurred before the introduction of the personal information disclosure or electronic anklet systems. The personal information registration system was introduced in 2006 for sex offenders against children and adolescents, and in 2011 for adult sex offenders. The electronic anklet system was implemented in 2008.

When the first trial decision made in March was upheld in the second trial, Choi stated he would seek a ruling from the Supreme Court.

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