A Man in His 30s Postpones Military Enlistment Using COVID-19 False Excuse

A man in his 30s who faked a COVID-19 diagnosis to postpone his military enlistment was sentenced to a suspended prison term.

According to the legal community on the 15th, Judge Lim Yeongsil of the Gwangju District Court Criminal Division 9 sentenced A (31), who was charged with obstruction of official duties by deception, to 10 months in prison with a 2-year suspension.

A was prosecuted for sending a falsified COVID-19 positive text message to the Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Military Manpower Administration last April to unjustly delay his enlistment.

He is also accused of postponing his enlistment without a valid reason by contacting the Military Manpower Administration on the day of his enlistment (June 20) after receiving his active duty enlistment notice in May, saying, "I will visit the hospital due to toe pain and go the next day."

Under current law, a person who receives an active duty enlistment notice must enlist within three days of the enlistment date unless there is a valid reason.

Judge Lim pointed out, "The defendant’s crime is serious as he committed this offense again during the investigation of his previous enlistment postponement," adding, "Moreover, the defendant failed to appear at the trial despite being summoned."

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