'40s Woman Who Poured Hot Coffee on Motel Fee Dispute Employee Receives Suspended Sentence in 2nd Trial'

by Kim Daehyun

Published 06 Nov.2021 19:32(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] A woman in her 40s who injured an employee by pouring hot coffee on her during an argument over motel fees was sentenced to a suspended prison term again in the appellate court. However, the sentence was slightly reduced compared to the first trial, considering that she admitted to the crime and reached a settlement with the victim.

According to the legal community on the 6th, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 1-1 (Presiding Judge Kim Jaeyoung) recently sentenced A (41, female), who was indicted on charges of injury, to four months in prison with a one-year suspension in the appellate trial.

The court stated, "Although the nature of the crime is not good, the defendant admitted her wrongdoing at this stage, and the victim who settled with the defendant does not wish for punishment," adding, "She is committed to living sincerely from now on, and considering that she has no prior criminal record exceeding a fine, the sentencing conditions were taken into account."

Earlier, A was brought to trial on charges of injuring employee B by pouring hot coffee from a paper cup onto B’s chest during an argument over the extension fee at a motel counter in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, around 3:40 p.m. on September 22, 2019.

A is also accused of entering behind the counter and stabbing B’s chest with an umbrella. B was found to have sustained third-degree burns covering less than 10% of the body surface and injuries requiring about four weeks of medical treatment.

Initially, A denied some charges in the first trial, claiming, "I was never stabbed with an umbrella, and B is exaggerating the damage." The first trial court ruled, "The evidence (including CCTV) is clear, and the victim has no reason to exaggerate the damage, yet the defendant denies the crime," adding, "She neither compensated the victim financially nor otherwise and has a prior record of similar crimes (injury)," sentencing her to five months in prison with a two-year suspension. The court also ordered 200 hours of community service.