‘Suspected affair’: Man in his 60s sentenced to 3 years in prison in first trial for confining wife and burning her with heated tool

[Financial News] A husband in his 60s who was indicted on charges of assaulting and confining his wife and burning her with a heated tool because he suspected her of infidelity was sentenced to prison in the first trial.
On the 27th, the 13th Criminal Division of Seoul Southern District Court, presided over by Judge Seo Bo-min, sentenced Jeon, 65, who had been indicted while in custody on charges of aggravated confinement resulting in injury, to three years in prison.
The court found all the charges in the indictment proven. It said, “The crime is highly reprehensible, as he assaulted the victim with his hands during divorce mediation and then injured her using various tools.”
It added, “The victim appears to have suffered very severe physical and mental pain at the time,” and, “His responsibility is grave.”
However, the court considered it a mitigating factor that the victim did not want him punished and that other family members and acquaintances also petitioned for leniency. It also took into account that Jeon admitted his wrongdoing and had no prior criminal record.
Jeon was indicted on charges of punching his wife several times at their home in Seoul’s Guro District on August 5, then tying her wrists with cable ties and other items and confining her to prevent her from leaving. Investigators found that during the incident he used a tool heated over a flame to injure her face and other parts of her body.
On the day of the crime, police responded to a report from Jeon’s child, went to the scene, rescued his wife and arrested him. Jeon was reportedly said to have committed the crime because he suspected his wife of infidelity.
The prosecution (now the Public Prosecution Office) sought a 10-year prison sentence for Jeon at the closing hearing on the 29th of last month. It argued that the offense was particularly serious because he inflicted severe injuries through cruel treatment, and that the risk of reoffending was high.
Jeon admitted all the charges in the indictment during the trial. However, his lawyer argued that Jeon had momentarily lost control and committed the crime, and that he had not received appropriate treatment while suffering from severe depression. The lawyer also asked for leniency, saying that Jeon had left his children a message immediately after the crime asking them to look after the victim, and that he was now receiving medication and showing a willingness to undergo treatment.
In his final statement, Jeon said, “I’ve lived for 65 years and never done anything like this, and I’ve never once sworn at my wife. I can’t believe I did this, and I hate myself. I’m sorry. I will live in atonement.”


[email protected] Seong-hyun Park Reporter