Prosecutors sought a prison sentence for a former Chungcheongbuk-do Office of Education supervisor who was put on trial on charges of installing cameras in education training facilities and restaurant restrooms to illegally film dozens of people.
At the sentencing hearing held on the 1st before the Cheongju District Court Criminal Division 6 single-judge panel (Presiding Judge Cho Jin-yong), prosecutors asked the court to sentence A to two years in prison on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (filming using cameras, trespassing into multiuse facilities for sexual purposes), for which A was indicted and detained.
Prosecutors also requested completion of a sexual violence treatment program, disclosure and notification of personal information, and an employment restriction order for three years at institutions related to children and teenagers.
Prosecutors said, "A did not reach a settlement with the victims and prepared the tools in advance to commit the crimes in a planned and repeated manner," adding, "However, A confessed to all the offenses, and we considered that A is a first-time offender."
A's side pleaded for leniency.
The attorney said, "From the investigation stage, the defendant admitted all the crimes and actively cooperated with the investigation," and added, "Please consider that from a year before the case A felt a decline in judgment and that the recordings were not distributed externally."
During the trial, questions continued about A's mental health condition.
The judge asked, "Did the defendant not visit a hospital before the crimes? Did A only go to the hospital after becoming the subject of an investigation?" A answered, "I did think something was wrong with me, but I did not think it was an illness."
In a final statement, A said, "I am in such despair that I cannot face anyone," adding, "I will faithfully receive treatment going forward."
A was indicted on charges of installing small cameras at six locations—from early this year to on Feb.—including an education training facility, relatives' homes, and restaurant public restrooms, and illegally filming the bodies of 41 people.
The investigation was found that a total of 47 illegal recordings were discovered on four small cameras used in the crimes.
The sentencing hearing will be held on the 17th.