Rape Case from 17 Years Ago... Man in His 40s Identified by DNA Has Sentence Reduced on Appeal

Court Sentences Defendant to Two Years and Six Months in Prison
"Original Sentence Deemed Too Severe in Light of Sentencing Factors"

A man in his 40s who was tried for a rape case that occurred 17 years ago has had his sentence reduced on appeal.

On May 15, the Criminal Division 2 of the Incheon Branch of the Seoul High Court (Chief Judge Lee Jeongmin) overturned the original sentence of five years in prison for Mr. A (41), who was indicted on charges of home invasion and rape, and instead sentenced him to two years and six months in prison. The court also ordered a five-year employment restriction for Mr. A at institutions related to children, adolescents, and people with disabilities.

The appellate court explained, "The defendant has acknowledged his wrongdoing and is remorseful. He also reached a settlement with the victim by paying 30 million won in compensation." The court added, "Considering various sentencing factors, the original sentence is judged to be too severe."

DNA. (This photo is not directly related to the article.) Pixabay

Mr. A was indicted on charges of raping a woman in the emergency stairwell of an apartment in Guro-gu, Seoul, in September 2009 as she was returning home. According to the investigation, after riding the elevator together, Mr. A forcibly dragged Ms. B away while she was entering her front door passcode and committed the crime.

This case remained unsolved for a long time, but when Mr. A was later apprehended for another case of home invasion and forcible molestation, DNA secured from that investigation matched genetic material from the 2009 crime scene, revealing his involvement in 2024. Prosecutors subsequently indicted Mr. A after further investigation. In the first trial, the court sentenced Mr. A to five years in prison and remanded him into custody in January.

At that time, the court stated, "Given the method and nature of the crime, the offense is extremely egregious. The victim suffered prolonged psychological distress due to the perpetrator remaining unidentified for many years." The court also noted, "Taking into account the defendant's admission of guilt, his remorseful attitude, and the fact that he made a criminal deposit, the sentence was determined based on a comprehensive consideration of these factors."

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