'Police Officer Given Probation for Threats Before Mistress's Extreme Choice... Acquitted of Involuntary Manslaughter Charges'

A former police officer who threatened his mistress to commit an extreme act before their breakup was sentenced to a prison term with a suspended sentence.

The Criminal Division 15 of the Incheon District Court (Presiding Judge Ryu Hojung) on the 14th, in the sentencing trial of A (49), who was indicted for incitement to suicide and threats, recognized only the charge of threats as guilty and sentenced him to one year in prison with a two-year suspension.

A was tried on charges of threatening his mistress B (46 at the time of death) to take her own life in the early morning of November 2, 2021. At the time, he was a police sergeant at a police station in Incheon. During the breakup process with B, he made a phone call lasting about three hours, threatening, "I will mobilize all my police connections to have your son criminally punished, ruining his future, and I will also have your workplace audited by the National Tax Service so that you will be left homeless."

A was further investigated to have said to the terrified B, "I will spare your son, so you hang yourself and make an extreme choice." In fact, B was found dead from an extreme act at a villa in Seo-gu, Incheon, around 8:30 a.m. the same day.

Former Police Executive Who Threatened Mistress Before Her Suicide Attempt
[Image Source=Yonhap News]

The court stated, "The defendant threatened the victim and her son and the victim’s employer by using his position as a police officer and his connections at the National Tax Service during their dispute," and added, "Despite the victim asking for forgiveness due to extreme fear and despair, the defendant continued to threaten her."

However, regarding the charge of incitement to suicide, the court acquitted him, stating, "Based solely on the evidence collected by the prosecution, it is difficult to conclude beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant anticipated the victim would commit suicide or threatened her to do so."

The court further explained the sentencing, saying, "Although it cannot be definitively concluded that the defendant’s threats caused the victim to commit suicide, the causal relationship cannot be ignored, and the defendant’s guilt is serious," and "Considering that the victim’s family requested criminal punishment and that the defendant has a prior record of a fine for a similar crime."

Earlier, the prosecution had demanded a five-year prison sentence for A during the closing arguments on the 30th of last month.

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