A hospital employee in his 30s who assaulted a patient who was incapacitated due to anesthesia after surgery was sentenced to prison.
The Incheon District Court, Bucheon branch, 1st Criminal Division (presiding Judge Yeo Hyun-joo) announced on the 26th that it had sentenced the hospital employee, Mr. A (34), who was arrested and indicted on charges of quasi-rape and quasi-forcible molestation, to 2 years and 6 months in prison.
The court also ordered Mr. A to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program and prohibited him from working in institutions related to children, adolescents, and disabled individuals for 5 years.
Mr. A was arrested and indicted for allegedly molesting the private parts of a woman in her 20s, Ms. B, who was admitted to a hospital in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, around 1:24 p.m. on Nov. 22 of last year.
At that time, Ms. B was scheduled to undergo general anesthesia surgery due to an injury to her leg.
Mr. A was assigned the task of transferring Ms. B to the X-ray room on the first floor of the hospital after the surgery.
However, Mr. A took Ms. B not to the first floor but to the eighth floor. It was investigated that he reached into the blanket covering Ms. B, unbuttoned her surgical pants, and touched her genitals several times.
It was revealed that Mr. A committed the crime by taking advantage of the fact that Ms. B was unable to resist due to her anesthetized state.
The court stated, "The defendant assaulted the victim, who should have been protected in a state of general anesthesia, with quasi-rape," and concluded that "he damaged the victim's dignity and the trust in medical professionals."
It added, "The defendant did not repent despite being on trial for past crimes of forcible molestation," and explained regarding the sentencing, "Although the defendant feels remorse for his actions, he has not received forgiveness from the victim who has been deeply traumatized."