A man in his 20s who was put on trial for sexually abusing children at unmanned stores has been sentenced to prison.

Busan District Court Criminal Division 6 (Presiding Judge Lim Sung-chul) sentenced the 20-year-old defendant, identified as A, to three years in prison on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes (forcible indecent act against a minor under the age of 13), the court said on the 16th.

The court also ordered A to disclose and notify his personal information for three years, placed restrictions on his employment at child, youth, and welfare facilities for disabled persons for five years, and ordered three years of probation.

A was put on trial for approaching children aged 9 to 12 from behind at checkout counters in unmanned stores in Busan last April and touching their intimate body parts on six separate occasions.

The court stated, "The nature of the crime is grave as it targeted children, and no measures have been taken to recover the damage suffered by the victims," adding, "A probation order was also issued as the defendant is judged to have a high likelihood of reoffending."

(Photo: Yonhap News)