Six-Time Drunk Driving Offender Causes Accident Again... Court Sentences to Prison

A man in his 60s, Mr. A, with six prior convictions for drunk driving, caused a traffic accident while driving under the influence again. Despite the victim's request for leniency, the court handed down a prison sentence.

According to the legal community on the 7th, the Chuncheon District Court Criminal Division 2 (Chief Judge Kim Seong-rae) dismissed the appeal filed by Mr. A (60), who was indicted for drunk driving under the Road Traffic Act and causing injury or death by dangerous driving under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, and upheld the original sentence of 1 year and 6 months imprisonment.

Police conducting a drunk driving crackdown (not directly related to the article content) (Photo by Yonhap News)

Last May, Mr. A was prosecuted for driving a passenger car in Wonju with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.134% and colliding with the vehicle of Mr. B (63), who was stopped, causing injuries that required about three weeks of treatment for Mr. B.

The first trial court sentenced him to prison, stating, "Despite having six prior punishments for drunk driving, he drove under the influence again," and ordered Mr. A to be detained in court.

Mr. A appealed, claiming the sentence was too harsh. However, the appellate court ruled, "Although it is acknowledged that the victim submitted a non-prosecution request again during the appellate trial after submitting a settlement agreement in the first trial, the victim's intention not to prosecute and materials related to victim recovery appear to have already been reflected in the sentencing judgment of the first trial." The court further explained the reason for dismissal, stating, "Drunk driving is a crime with a high risk of causing harm to others' lives and bodies, and there is a need for strict punishment."

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