A man in his 50s, who was convicted in the first trial for attempting to kidnap a 6-year-old child left alone in a vehicle, has been released in the appeals court.
The Incheon District Court’s Criminal Appeals Division 3 overturned the original sentence of 6 months in prison for Mr. A, who was charged with attempted abduction of a minor and assault, and instead sentenced him to 6 months in prison with a 2-year suspension. The court also ordered Mr. A to undergo probation.
Mr. A had been detained in court following a 6-month prison sentence in the first trial last July. However, with the suspended sentence ruling during the appeal, he was released.
Mr. A was charged for attempting to kidnap 6-year-old boy B in the streets of Incheon around 4 p.m. on July 7 last year. At that time, boy B was alone in a parked vehicle while his parents were briefly shopping. Mr. A allegedly entered the driver’s seat, threatened B by saying “I will kill you,” and attempted to drive the car but was stopped by a nearby elementary school teacher.
Additionally, Mr. A faced charges for approaching 8-year-old boy C in front of a nearby convenience store about ten minutes before the incident, threatening him with “I will kill you,” and assaulting him by grabbing his arm.
The appeals court noted that “the defendant’s crimes against minors are extremely serious and could cause significant psychological trauma to the victims and their families.” However, the court considered that “the defendant has acknowledged all the crimes and is deeply remorseful,” and that “the crime appears to have been committed impulsively under the influence of alcohol, and a settlement was amicably reached with one of the victims’ legal representatives during the appeal.”