"Hand over the camera" Reporter Assaulted, Court Vandalized... Western District Court Participants Sentenced to Prison

[Financial News] Participants in the protest who assaulted a reporter or broke into the court and damaged property during the disturbance at the Western District Court have been sentenced to prison.
The Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 9 (Judge Kim Min-jeong) sentenced Mr. Yoo (44) and Mr. Je (40), who were charged with special injury and special coercion, to one year and ten months in prison, respectively.
The two were found guilty of surrounding a reporter covering the protest, threatening with a baton, seizing camera equipment, and forcing the deletion of audio files. The court stated, "The baton used by Mr. Yoo is considered a dangerous object under the special injury law," adding, "The injured reporter required about two weeks of treatment."
Defendants who broke into the court building were also sentenced to prison. Mr. Seo (64) was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for throwing a broken tile at the duty room window and pushing the police. The court emphasized, "Attacking the court's decision with physical violence is no different from denying the rule of law," and "Strict punishment is inevitable as the defendant denies the crime and shows no remorse." It further explained the sentencing background by stating, "Although a first-time offender, the method and circumstances of the intrusion were poor, causing extreme fear among the staff on site."
Mr. Oh (38), who was tried for special building intrusion and obstruction of official duties, was also sentenced to one year and six months in prison. Mr. Oh was confirmed on video pushing the police while leading the protest and entering the court lobby. The court ruled, "It is difficult to accept the defendant's claim of lack of intent in pushing the police."
Earlier that day, the Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 1 (Chief Judge Park Ji-won) sentenced another participant in the disturbance, Mr. Lee (35), to one year and four months in prison. Mr. Lee was found guilty of entering through the back door of the court with numerous protest participants in the early morning of January and breaking into the building through the duty room window. The court stated, "The motive and method of the crime were very poor and seriously damaged the building," adding, "The defendant is not a first-time offender and did not sincerely reflect," explaining the reason for the sentencing.

425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter