50s Man Arrested for Sexual Assault After Hiring 20s Mentally Disabled Woman as Part-Time Employee

A 50s man, who hired a mentally disabled woman in her 20s as a part-time employee and sexually assaulted her, was reportedly sentenced to five years in prison in the first trial on January 1, and has since appealed the decision.

According to a report by the JoongAng Ilbo on the 18th, Mr. A from Gyeongnam was indicted in September of the same year on charges of forcibly molesting Ms. B in his store's office in June of last year and then sexually assaulting her in a nearby motel.

In addition, Mr. A was also indicted for using the psychoactive drug methamphetamine (commonly known as philopon) in a motel in Busan in August of the same year.

Mr. A committed his crimes from the very first day Ms. B started working. On June 9 of last year, around 7 a.m., he forcibly molested Ms. B by making her sit on the office sofa. Later that day, he took her to a nearby motel and sexually assaulted her. His criminal acts continued the next morning.

On the morning of the 10th, he again sexually assaulted Ms. B in a motel. When she resisted, he restrained her by holding her wrists while forcing her onto the bed.

After these experiences, Ms. B confessed to her mother, "The boss did something bad and sexually assaulted me," which led her mother to report Mr. A to the police.

Ms. B's mother expressed concern to the police that following the incident, her daughter was in a state where she might "make an extreme choice" and "jump into a car."

In court, Ms. B testified, "I went believing the words 'Your part-time job is confirmed. Come to work,' and I never imagined something like this would happen."

"I don't remember… I went to the motel, but I didn't commit sexual assault."

Ms. B also stated, "(During the assault) I told him, 'You're old enough to be my father, how could you do this?' but it didn't get through to him," adding, "He was strong as a man, and I couldn't resist at all."

During the investigation, Mr. A denied the accusations, claiming, "Ms. B asked me for a massage in the office, and I only touched her shoulders and back, then sent her home."

When the police pressed him, asking if he had taken Ms. B to the motel, Mr. A initially stated, "I don’t remember," but then claimed, "I went to the motel, but I didn't commit any crimes."

During the prosecutor's investigation, Mr. A stated, "I often rented a room in a motel near the office to shower and rest because I was sweating a lot." He claimed that he told Ms. B to stay in the office while he went to freshen up, but she insisted on accompanying him for a meal.

He further expressed doubts, saying, "I'm suspicious that Ms. B deliberately followed me to the motel," and "Ms. B ran into the motel first."

However, upon reviewing the motel's closed-circuit television (CCTV), investigators confirmed that Ms. B had not entered the motel first but followed Mr. A reluctantly. DNA from Mr. A was also found on clothing submitted by Ms. B to the authorities.

The Ulsan District Court's 11th Criminal Division stated, "The defendant has not provided a plausible explanation for why he went to the motel with the victim," and rejected Mr. A's defense.

The court concluded, "The defendant used the bait of employment and the power dynamic between a boss and an employee to treat the victim as a tool for his sexual desires from the very first day she was hired."

Man Sentenced to Five Years for Sexual Assault of Disabled Woman

Additionally, the court noted, "The defendant is making irrational claims during the investigation and trial, and is displaying an attitude of blaming the victim, expressing suspicion regarding her intent to file a complaint without clear evidence."

Consequently, the court sentenced Mr. A to five years in prison for violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act (forced molestation and rape of disabled individuals) and the Management of Narcotics Act.

Furthermore, he was ordered to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program and was prohibited from working in institutions related to children, adolescents, and the disabled for seven years.

Mr. A has appealed the first-instance ruling.

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