▲ Military
Controversy is expected to arise as a suspended sentence has been handed down to a Navy sergeant who repeatedly forcibly groped a same-sex subordinate serving on the same vessel.
The 2nd Criminal Division of the Busan District Court's Dongbu Branch (Presiding Judge Kim Byung-joo) announced that it sentenced Person A, who was indicted on charges of forcible indecency by a military service member, to six months in prison, but suspended the sentence.
Person A, while serving as a Navy sergeant, was brought to trial on charges of groping a subordinate non-commissioned officer, Person B, three times inside a vessel between April and May of last year.
It was revealed that Person A touched Person B's chest area with his hand in the vessel's combat information center and hallway, and touched the chest and major body parts in the mess hall.
The court judged that the nature of the crime was severe, as the groping was repeated against a subordinate who found it difficult to resist the actions of a superior in the military, where a strict hierarchy is enforced.
The court pointed out that the victim suffered considerable sexual displeasure and physical and mental anguish, and that the crime also had a negative impact on fostering a desirable military culture.
However, the court took into consideration favorable circumstances such as the fact that Person A paid 10 million won to the victim and reached a settlement before the conclusion of arguments, and that the victim does not want punishment.
The court explained, "Taking into account various sentencing conditions, including the fact that the possibility of reoffending appears to be low as he firmly vows not to commit offenses again taking this case as an opportunity, and that he has no prior record of criminal punishment, we have suspended the sentence."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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