The late Bang Young-hwan's taxi company CEO sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison for threats and assault upheld in appeal trial

"No Special Issues Found in Original Judgment"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The court upheld the original sentence of 1 year and 6 months in prison in the appeal trial of the taxi company CEO who was charged with assault and intimidation of taxi driver Bang Young-hwan, who self-immolated and died while demanding the implementation of a full salary system.

The 1st Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Maeng Hyun-moo) dismissed both the defendant's and the prosecution's appeals on the 22nd in the appeal trial of Jeong Mo (52), who was indicted on charges including injury and violation of the Labor Standards Act. The first trial court sentenced Jeong to 1 year and 6 months in prison in March.

The court explained, "The first trial regarded the case as serious due to its nature and made a detailed judgment by explaining circumstances favorable and unfavorable to the defendant," adding, "No particular problems were found in the original judgment."

Jeong was prosecuted for assaulting Bang, a taxi driver affiliated with Haesung Transport, who was conducting a solo protest in March last year to condemn wage arrears and urge the implementation of a full salary system.

Bang, who had continued his solo protest for 227 days, attempted self-immolation by pouring a volatile substance on himself on the road in front of the company on September 26 last year and died on October 6, ten days later.

Jeong is also accused of verbally abusing and cursing Bang in April of the same year to disrupt the assembly, and threatening to throw a flowerpot at Bang during the protest in August. After Bang's death, charges including assaulting other workers and reckless driving were also included in the indictment.

It was reported that Jeong had previously been punished 13 times for labor-related crimes such as violations of the Labor Standards Act and 5 times for violent crimes.

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