Woman in Her 50s Given Suspended Sentence for False Report in Dongtan Restroom Case; Conviction for False Accusation Finalized

Suwon District Court Sentences Woman to Six Months in Prison, Suspended for One Year
"Initial Statement Was Too Detailed... The Falsely Accused Suffered"
Victim's Story of Injustice Sparks Controversy Over Police Handling

A woman in her 50s has been sentenced to a suspended prison term for filing a false report that a man in his 20s engaged in sexual acts in a women's restroom in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.

Photo for article understanding. The Asia Business Daily DB

According to Yonhap News and other sources on May 13, Judge Cho Hyunkwon of the Suwon District Court's 5th Criminal Division delivered a sentence of six months in prison, suspended for one year, to a woman in her 50s, identified as Ms. A, who was indicted on charges of making a false accusation. Ms. A was brought to trial for falsely reporting on June 23, 2024, that "while she was using the restroom, a man entered and engaged in sexual acts" in the women's restroom next to the apartment management office in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.

During the police investigation, after reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and other evidence, Ms. A identified a man in his 20s, Mr. B, as the perpetrator and wrote a false statement naming him. However, it was revealed that Mr. B had actually used the men's restroom located across the hall.

Ms. A claimed innocence, asserting that she "had no intent to file a false accusation and was in a state of mental incapacity." However, the court did not accept this argument. Judge Cho stated, "It appears that the defendant was at least vaguely aware that Mr. B's actions, as she imagined them, could be untrue, and therefore intent for false accusation is acknowledged."

The court further stated, "A false accusation of a crime can be a dangerous offense, as the falsely accused could face severe punishment. The defendant's initial statement was so detailed that investigative authorities conducted a serious investigation into the accused, during which the victim suffered extreme distress." The verdict has been finalized as neither the prosecutor nor the defendant appealed.

This case drew nationwide attention after the victim, Mr. B, released a recording of his conversation with the police through a YouTube channel. Public criticism of the police investigation escalated when it became known that, when Mr. B visited the Hwaseong Dongtan Police Station to plead his innocence, officers responded by saying, "If you have nothing to hide, just stay put." As the controversy grew, including a petition calling for the dismissal of the responsible officers, Ms. A went to the police station four days after her report and confessed, "It was a false report." Police subsequently cleared Mr. B of any charges related to the sexual offense and booked Ms. A for false accusation.

At the time, the police stated, "We apologize for the hurt caused to the individual by the investigator's inappropriate language and attitude in a situation where the crime was not clearly established." It is reported that the officers involved received disciplinary measures such as administrative warnings and official cautions. An administrative warning, though not legally classified as a disciplinary action, results in personnel disadvantages, while an official caution is issued directly by the provincial police chief without referral to a disciplinary committee.

Regarding the verdict, Mr. B commented, "It was the expected outcome. The punishment for false accusation is not that severe to begin with. Honestly, for a false accusation, shouldn't the perpetrator receive the same sentence as the victim would have? But that's the law."

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