Tenant Sentenced to 10 Years for Hitting Landlord's Family with Car After Being Evicted for Unpaid Rent

by Bang Jeil

Published 26 Jan.2024 14:11(KST)

Updated 26 Jan.2024 14:13(KST)

Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison in Both First and Appellate Trials
Four Including Landlord Couple and Son-in-Law Suffered Injuries

A man in his 50s who harbored resentment after being forcibly evicted for failing to pay monthly rent and rammed the landlord's family with his vehicle was sentenced to a heavy prison term again in the appellate court. On the 25th, the Criminal Division 1 of the Busan High Court (Chief Judge Park Jun-yong) dismissed the appeal of Mr. A, a man in his 50s charged with attempted murder and special injury, and upheld the original sentence of 10 years in prison.

Mr. A was brought to trial on charges of ramming the landlord Mr. B, his wife, and their son and daughter-in-law?a family of four?with his SUV in front of a villa in Gijang-gun, Busan, around 3:50 p.m. on April 27 last year. Mr. A lived in the villa owned by Mr. and Mrs. B but failed to pay the monthly rent on time. After Mr. and Mrs. B requested him to vacate, Mr. A ignored the request. Eventually, Mr. and Mrs. B obtained a building eviction order from the Busan District Court East Branch and proceeded with the forced eviction process.

A man in his 50s who harbored resentment after being forcibly evicted for failing to pay monthly rent ran his vehicle into the landlord's family and was sentenced to a heavy punishment again in the appellate court. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. [Photo by Pixabay]

On the day of the incident, during the forced eviction execution, when Mr. A tried to enter the house, Mr. and Mrs. B tried to stop him, leading to a scuffle. After Mr. and Mrs. B reported Mr. A to the police for trespassing, an enraged Mr. A rammed their son and daughter-in-law and then Mr. and Mrs. B with his SUV one after another. The landlord’s son and daughter-in-law, who were hit by the vehicle, were diagnosed with injuries requiring six weeks of treatment, and Mr. and Mrs. B were diagnosed with injuries requiring two weeks of treatment.

The first trial court stated, "Mr. A could easily foresee that the victims could die, so the intent to kill is recognized," and sentenced him to 10 years in prison. The appellate court explained the reason for dismissing the appeal, saying, "Mr. A struck the victims with his vehicle and pushed them toward the building. It is recognized that if the building wall had not been damaged, the victims could have died," and added, "Although Mr. A had a mental illness, considering that he reoffended during the probation period for special injury, the first trial sentence is not heavy."