"Bread Shop Owner Sexually Assaulted Employee with Intellectual Disability, 'Secret from Mom'"

8-Year Prison Sentence for Bakery Owner in His 50s in First Trial
Also Received Employment Subsidies from Local Government
Court: "Used for Financial Gain and Sexual Gratification"

A 50-year-old bakery owner who sexually assaulted a woman in her 20s with an intellectual disability four times and fraudulently obtained employment subsidies from a local government using false documents was sentenced to eight years in prison in the first trial.

The Criminal Division 1 of the Yeongwol Branch of Chuncheon District Court (Chief Judge Kim Shinyu) sentenced A (51), who was arrested and indicted on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (quasi-rape of a disabled person) and the Act on the Management of Local Government Subsidies, to eight years in prison, according to Yonhap News on the 16th.

He was also ordered to be banned from employment in institutions related to children, adolescents, and disabled persons for seven years and placed under probation for three years.

During the probation period, he was prohibited from approaching or contacting the victim and her family, and was required to complete 80 hours of a sexual violence treatment program conducted by the probation office.

Fraudulently Obtained 6 Million Won in Subsidies from Local Government under the Pretext of Labor Costs

On the 16th, the Criminal Division 1 of the Yeongwol Branch of Chuncheon District Court (Chief Judge Kim Shinyu) announced that A (51), who was arrested and indicted on charges of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (quasi-rape of a disabled person) and the Act on the Management of Local Government Subsidies, was sentenced to 8 years in prison.
[Photo by Asia Economy]

A, who runs a bakery manufacturing and sales business in a region of Gangwon Province, was indicted on charges of sexually assaulting B (26), a woman with a level 2 intellectual disability whom he employed as a staff member through an acquaintance’s introduction, four times between November and mid-December 2021 in the store’s restroom, the main store’s inner room and office, and a hotel room.

He was also charged with fraudulently receiving 6 million won in subsidies over six months from November 2021 under the pretext of labor costs by falsely claiming to have paid more than 1 million won per month per worker to the local government, despite paying B only 500,000 won, based on a regular employment support project that provides 1 million won per month per worker to the business owner.

During the trial, A claimed, "I was motivated to form a romantic relationship due to the victim’s expressions of affection."

However, evidence adopted by the court and consistent testimony from the victim revealed that A told the victim not to tell her parents during some of the crimes, undressed her without consent, and prevented her from putting her clothes back on.

The court stated, "The defendant employed the victim as a store employee from the beginning to use her for obtaining additional loans, and it appears that he fabricated payroll documents to fraudulently receive subsidies."

It added, "Considering the circumstances and motives of the crime, such as using the victim for financial gain or sexual satisfaction, the crime is serious. The victim suffered significant psychological trauma from the quasi-rape of a disabled person, and taking into account the demand for severe punishment, the sentence was determined."

Meanwhile, both A and the prosecution appealed the verdict. The second trial is currently underway at the Chuncheon Branch of the Seoul High Court.

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