60s Wandering Daehangno with a Weapon: 1,000 Petitions Filed... "Victim of State Violence"

Citizen Group "Must Consider Disability Characteristics and Life Course"
"Victims Forcedly Detained at Busan Hyeongjebokjiwon"

About 1,000 citizens submitted a petition asking for leniency for a man in his 60s who was wandering around downtown Seoul wielding a weapon and shouting loudly.

According to the Seoul Central District Court on the 22nd, 1,015 citizens submitted a petition on the 17th, requesting leniency for Mr. A, who was arrested by the police after wandering around Daehak-ro in Jongno-gu, Seoul, for five minutes while carrying a weapon and shouting.

On the 17th, Mr. A was arrested in Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, after wandering around for 5 minutes wielding a weapon and shouting.
[Photo by Hyehwa Police Station]

The citizens who submitted the petition are acquaintances of Mr. A and activists from the civic group "Homeless Action," which has acted as Mr. A's guardian for 20 years.

Through the petition, the activists stated, "It is true that Mr. A caused anxiety by carrying a weapon," but argued, "Considering his disability characteristics and life history, detention is not appropriate." They emphasized that Mr. A is a person with a severe developmental disability with a mental age of only 3 to 7 years.

In fact, it was investigated that Mr. A, due to his disability, is sensitive to noise and was startled by the loud noise of a motorcycle, which led him to pick up a weapon at home and go outside.

They also wrote in the petition that Mr. A was a victim who was forcibly confined at the Busan Brothers Home, where human rights violations occurred in the past, stating, "Due to a difficult life, trauma from state violence, and weakened health, he often felt frustration, and shouting loudly was the only way to release his inner anguish, but he never committed violence against anyone."

The activists added that due to illnesses such as cerebral infarction and acute renal failure, Mr. A is physically incapable of harming others, and requested, "Please show leniency so that he can receive treatment rather than detention."

However, the Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant on the 19th after a warrant hearing, stating, "Considering the risk of flight, the seriousness of the crime, and the risk of reoffending."

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