Malicious Civil Complaints Threatening Public Officials Receive Suspended Sentence...Prosecutors Appeal, Saying "Sentence Is Too Lenient"

A malicious complainant who threatened a public official for a long time received a suspended sentence in the first trial, but the prosecution appealed, arguing that the sentence was too lenient.

On the 9th, the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office announced that it had appealed the first trial verdict of Mr. A, a man in his 60s who was indicted on charges of intimidation and recently sentenced to 8 months in prison with a 3-year suspension.

The prosecution explained, "The victim is still suffering and receiving hospital treatment due to this incident and is pleading for a severe punishment of the defendant," adding, "The defendant continued to threaten the victim even after receiving part of his salary following a complaint to the Labor Office."

They further stated, "The degree of intimidation was severe and the crime period was long," and "Considering that the defendant actually filed multiple complaints against the victim with investigative agencies on charges such as dereliction of duty, the first trial sentence is too light," explaining the reason for the appeal.

Earlier, the prosecution had requested a 10-month prison sentence without suspension for Mr. A during the first trial's sentencing hearing.

Press Conference Urging Measures Against Malicious Civil Complaints by Public Officials [Photo by Asia Economy]

Mr. A was brought to trial on charges of threatening Mr. B, an employee of the Jungbu Regional Employment and Labor Office, more than ten times from July 2022 to April last year. He was investigated for threatening Mr. B with phrases such as "Do you want to take off your public official uniform?" and "I will file a criminal complaint and spread it to media organizations," due to dissatisfaction with the handling of his complaint.

A prosecution official stated, "We will thoroughly prepare for the trial so that the defendant receives a heavy sentence in the appellate court," and added, "We will continue to respond strictly to malicious complaints that threaten public officials and interfere with their duties."

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