▲ A forestry authority helicopter engages in firefighting operations in Macheon-myeon, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do on February 23.
A court has handed down a heavy prison sentence to a man in his 60s who started another wildfire shortly after being released from prison for habitually setting fires, a moniker once known as the "Bongdaesan Fire Squirrel."
The Criminal Division 1 of the Geochang Branch of the Changwon District Court sentenced a man in his 60s, identified by his surname A, to 12 years in prison on charges including violations of the Forestry Protection Act.
A was put on trial for setting fires on three occasions between January and February of this year in the forests around Namwon, Jeollabuk-do, and Hamyang, including a massive wildfire that broke out in Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, last February.
Previously, he had served a 10-year prison sentence for repeatedly setting fires around Mount Bongdaesan in Ulsan between 1994 and 2011.
The court stated in its ruling, "Although a psychological evaluation showed he has a pathological arson disorder, the crimes appear to have been driven by stress and alcohol, making it difficult to recognize a state of mental weakness." It added, "Wildfires seriously undermine public safety and peace and can threaten the lives and property of others, making them extremely dangerous."
The court further noted, "Despite the fact that his arson crimes destroyed 232 hectares of forest and caused massive damage exceeding 900 million won, he made no effort to restore the damage," adding, "Considering that he committed the crimes again after serving a prison sentence for the same type of offense in the past, a heavy sentence is inevitable."
(Photo provided by the Korea Forest Service, Yonhap News)
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