Taxi Driver Who Abandoned Drunken Passenger on Main Road Faces Prison Term Request

Prosecutors have requested a prison sentence for a taxi driver who abandoned a heavily intoxicated passenger on a main road.

During the sentencing hearing held today (the 12th) by Judge Choi Yun-young of Criminal Division 2 at the Gwangju District Court, the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office asked the court to sentence the defendant, surnamed Lee (in his early 20s), to one year and six months in prison.

Lee is accused of dropping off a passenger who was vomiting and under the influence of alcohol at the edge of a 16-lane bidirectional road instead of the destination, and driving away in January of this year while working as a taxi driver.

At the time, the passenger was in a completely unconscious state, unable to properly control their body, and suffered injuries. A search operation for a missing person was also triggered following a report that a family member was missing.

In his final statement, Lee appealed for leniency, stating, "I called another taxi for the passenger."

The court scheduled the sentencing trial for this case, which includes separate criminal charges against Lee, for the 23rd of next month.

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