A man in his 60s who was indicted for assaulting a police officer during a National Assembly special committee's on-site inspection of a vote-counting center has received a suspended prison sentence in his first trial. The case stemmed from the ballot paper controversy in the June 3 local elections.
The Seoul Eastern District Court's Criminal Division 8, presided over by Senior Judge Jung Jung-ho, on the 9th sentenced Lim, a 60-year-old man charged with obstruction of official duties, to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years.
The court found that Lim admitted to the charges and that all allegations were proven guilty based on the relevant evidence.
"In light of the circumstances of the offense and his conduct and attitude at the time of the crime and immediately afterward, particularly before investigative authorities, the nature of the crime cannot be described as good," the court said. "Although the offenses date back to 2011, he also has multiple prior convictions for violence."
The court did, however, take into account as mitigating factors that Lim has admitted his wrongdoing and shown remorse, and that he deposited compensation with the court for the injured police officer. It also factored into sentencing that he had been detained for about two months over the case and that there were some extenuating circumstances behind his violent conduct at the time.
Lim is accused of kneeling in front of a line of special committee lawmakers who were attempting to enter the vote-counting center at the handball stadium in Olympic Park in Seoul's Songpa district at around 1:10 p.m. on July 2 this year, blocking their movement, and pushing a police officer who tried to restrain him with his hands and arms.
In earlier hearings, Lim's side largely acknowledged the charges but argued that he had not assaulted anyone with the intent of attacking a specific police officer, and that the physical contact occurred amid a crowd of people pressed together.
At a hearing held on the 21st of last month, prosecutors sought a prison term of one year and six months for Lim, saying he had committed the offense despite having 14 prior records of similar conduct.
