Sexually assaulted stepdaughter under 18 over 2,000 times in 13 years... Sentenced to 23 years in first trial

A stepfather who sexually assaulted his underage stepdaughter for 13 years until she became an adult was sentenced to 23 years in prison in the first trial.

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 26 (Presiding Judge Jeong Jin-ah) sentenced 50-year-old Go Mo to 23 years in prison on the 1st for violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act and the Child Welfare Act. Along with this, he was ordered to be banned from employment at institutions related to children, adolescents, and persons with disabilities for 10 years, and to wear an electronic location tracking device for 25 years.

The court stated, "The victim, who was 12 years old at the time of the first crime, was going through severe confusion due to her parents' divorce and remarriage," and added, "The perpetrator acted as if supporting the victim, preventing her from resisting mentally, and committed the crime against a victim who did not understand the meaning of sexual acts."

It continued, "The crimes occurred thousands of times in various locations ranging from the residence to outdoors, and even after the victim became an adult and refused, the perpetrator continued the crimes, showing an indescribable level of shamelessness and audacity," and "The victim suffered abuse for 12 years, felt guilt, and is currently experiencing depression and panic disorder."

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The court also pointed out that Go withdrew cash and fled as soon as the victim reported the crime and consistently showed a bad attitude after the crime. The court said, "The victim's mother, who learned of the crime, took her own life, causing the victim to suffer the pain of losing her mother," and "Although the defendant belatedly admitted the crime in court, it is appropriate for him to be isolated from society for a considerable period to repent," sentencing him to a heavy punishment.

Go was arrested and indicted last November on charges of sexually assaulting and habitually sexually abusing his stepdaughter about 2,090 times over 13 years from 2008, when the victim was 12 years old, until 2020, when she became an adult.

He was investigated to have sexually exploited the victim using the grooming method, psychologically dominating her over a long period. Go's crimes continued even after the entire family immigrated to New Zealand. He was also investigated for producing sexual exploitation materials.

The stepdaughter, who belatedly realized that her stepfather's actions were crimes, reported to the local police, but Go fled to Korea and was caught by police in Cheonan, Chungnam, in October last year. The victim's biological mother is known to have taken her own life due to the shock of her husband's crimes.

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