Beating and Throwing Down... Abusive Teacher's Appeal Trial Suspended Sentence

A childcare worker in her 40s who repeatedly inflicted violence on children under the pretext of discipline was sentenced to a suspended prison term again in the appellate court.

According to the legal community on the 18th, the Gwangju District Court's 4th Criminal Division (Presiding Judge Jeong Young-ha) dismissed the appeal of Ms. A (41, female), who was sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year suspension in the first trial for violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes.

Ms. A was prosecuted for abusing four children a total of 12 times from January to April 2021 at a daycare center located in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do.

She inflicted violence in various ways, such as hitting with both fists and tripping the children to make them fall.

She also grabbed one child's hand to hit another child and showed behavior such as picking up a pen and stabbing their hand.

Ms. A argued that "it was an act for educational purposes and there was no intention to abuse."

The court ruled, "Child abuse crimes do not require intent or purpose," and recognized that "it is sufficiently acknowledged that the act could result in harm to the child's physical and mental development."

Furthermore, the court explained, "Even after carefully reviewing various circumstances that are factors in sentencing, the original sentence is appropriate and was made within a reasonable range of discretion."

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