Investigator Who Was Supposed to Protect Victims Commits Sexual Assault Against Sisters, Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

A 10-year prison sentence has been finalized for an investigator at an organization for the rights of people with disabilities who was charged with sexually assaulting teenage female students with intellectual disabilities.

The First Division of the Supreme Court (Justice Seo Gyeong-hwan presiding) upheld the lower court's ruling last month, sentencing the defendant, a man in his 50s identified as A, to 10 years in prison for violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes (rape of a person under protection with a disability).

A, who worked as an investigator for a disability rights advocacy organization in Jeju, was indicted on charges of sexually abusing two teenage female students with intellectual disabilities, including a girl identified as B, as well as B's younger sister. The crimes occurred multiple times between July 2024 and February 2025 in locations including a counseling room, a storage room, and during home visits.

A was also charged with raping B in the back seat of a company vehicle in February 2025.

The first trial court found A guilty, sentencing him to 10 years in prison. The court also ordered him to complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment and 40 hours of child abuse treatment programs, and imposed a 10-year ban on his employment at institutions related to children and adolescents.

Although A denied some of the charges, the first trial court rejected his claims, stating that there was no reason to believe the victims had provided false testimony and that there were factors supporting the credibility of their statements.

The first trial court criticized A, stating, "As an employee of a facility for the disabled, the defendant was in a position to protect the victims. However, he abused the fact that the victims had limited ability to protect or defend themselves, committing sexual crimes. The gravity of his guilt is severe, and a stern punishment is inevitable."

A appealed the decision, but the second trial court and the Supreme Court both found no errors in the judgment and dismissed his appeal.

(Photo: Yonhap News TV, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.