"She insulted me and wouldn't answer my calls"—Man in His 60s Sentenced to Prison for Confining and Assaulting a Caregiver

A man in his 60s who confined, assaulted, and stabbed a caregiver with a weapon because he believed she was speaking ill of him has been sentenced to prison.
According to legal sources on the 7th, the Seoul Northern District Court's Criminal Division 5, presided over by Judge Kwon So-young, sentenced Mr. A (67), who was indicted on charges of aggravated confinement and aggravated assault, to one year in prison on the 20th of last month.
Mr. A was put on trial for forcibly taking Mr. B, a caregiver he met through a Home Care Service, from a bus stop to his residence and confining her on June 12. On June 25, he again confined Mr. B, whom he encountered by chance, and stabbed her hand.
Investigations revealed that Mr. A committed the crimes out of resentment after Mr. B blocked his calls and messages. Mr. A, who was a long-term care recipient due to dementia, depression, and diabetes, had received Home Care Service from Mr. B from around November last year until June. He mistakenly believed that Mr. B was speaking ill of him, frequently tried to contact her, and was eventually blocked.
It was reported that Mr. B suffered multiple assaults and injuries during her confinement. Mr. A took her bag and mobile phone, slapped her face, shook her, and confined her in his residence, demanding, "Why don't you answer my calls?" He also stabbed and threatened her with a weapon, injuring her left hand.
During the trial, Mr. A denied the charges, claiming that Mr. B had visited his residence voluntarily and that he had never threatened her with a weapon or prevented her from leaving.
However, the court did not accept Mr. A's claims, stating that it was reasonable to view the victim as being confined due to psychological and intangible restraints. The court also considered the victim's specific and consistent testimony regarding the facts of the crime.
The court ruled, "Given the circumstances and nature of the crime, the offense is grave, and the victim likely experienced significant fear and anxiety, making the defendant's culpability substantial."
However, the sentencing took into account factors such as the victim's lack of desire for punishment, the risk of reoffending, the defendant's age, and health condition.

jyseo@fnnews.com Seo Ji-yoon Reporter