Three Participants in 'Western District Court Riot' Receive Prison Sentences Again in Appeals Trial

Most of those who broke into the court during the Western District Court riot in January have also been sentenced to prison in their appeals trial.

On November 3, the Criminal Division 3-1 of the Seoul Western District Court (Presiding Judge Ban Jungwoo) sentenced Lee (age 63), who was tried on charges including special trespassing of a building, to one year in prison in the appeals trial. Previously, the court of first instance had sentenced Lee to one year and four months in prison.

Lee was charged with storming the court on January 19 after an arrest warrant was issued for former President Yoon Suk-yeol.

The court explained the sentencing by stating, "The defendant's actions are serious and highly blameworthy, as he unlawfully entered the second floor of the court with numerous protest participants simply because he disagreed with the decision." However, the court also took into account that the defendant deposited 10 million won as part of the mitigation.

The original prison sentences were upheld for the other two co-defendants who were indicted together.

On the same day, the Criminal Division 3-2 of the Seoul Western District Court (Presiding Judge Jung Sungkyun) sentenced Kim (age 37), charged with special trespassing of a building, and Choi (age 35), charged with special damage to public property, to one year and one year and two months in prison, respectively, the same sentences as in the first trial.

Meanwhile, the appeals trial for Ok (age 22), who wore a black mask and stormed the court during the incident and was sentenced to three years and six months in prison in the first trial for throwing a fire extinguisher at a glass door (on charges including special trespassing of a building), has been postponed.

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