Sentencing halved despite kidnapping and attempted murder charges… Victim, "1-million-subscriber YouTuber" Su-tang, undergoes orbital fracture surgery: "Original sentence was too harsh"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The sentences for the group charged with kidnapping and attempting to kill Su-tang, a famous gaming YouTuber with 1 million subscribers, were significantly reduced.

According to NEWSIS on the 27th, the First Criminal Division of the Incheon Branch Court of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Jeong Seung-gyu) overturned the first-instance verdict and sentenced A (26) and B (33), who had been indicted in absentia for attempted robbery-murder and other charges, to 15 years and 12 years in prison, respectively, at their appeal hearing that day.

Their sentences were cut by half. The first-instance court had previously sentenced A to 30 years in prison and B to 25 years.

C (37), who was also indicted on charges including aiding aggravated assault, received a reduced sentence at the appeal hearing as well. The court overturned the first-instance verdict of 5 years in prison for C and sentenced him to 2 years in prison.

The court stated that it was difficult to find definitive intent to commit murder regarding A and B, taking into account that no result infringing on the victim's life actually occurred. It further noted that "the original sentence was somewhat heavy compared to the crimes committed."

The court also cited as grounds for leniency the fact that the defendants' families have consistently visited them and expressed their intention to live together after their release. The court explained that it comprehensively considered, among other factors, that the defendants' risk of reoffending was assessed as moderate or low.

Regarding C, the court determined that he did not accompany the others to the crime scene and that it was difficult to assume he had anticipated that the other defendants would attack parts of the victim's body capable of causing death or serious danger to life.

Previously, Su-tang was kidnapped by a man in his 20s and a man in his 30s around 10:40 p.m. on October 26 of last year, in the underground parking lot of an apartment complex in Incheon Songdo International City, where he suffered indiscriminate beatings.

A and B took Su-tang by force into a vehicle and drove to a cemetery parking lot in Geumsan-gun, Chungnam Province, approximately 200 kilometers away, but were arrested on the scene by police who responded to a report.

A and B were indicted for kidnapping after forcibly making the victim get into a car and beating him multiple times with a blunt object. C was indicted in absentia for providing them with crime tools such as a vehicle.

At the time, Su-tang also suffered serious injuries from the assault.

Subsequently, Su-tang shared an update on his YouTube channel, stating, "I am hospitalized and receiving proper treatment, and I recently completed surgery for an orbital fracture."

Su-tang also stated, "Scars and aftereffects in various places will remain with me for the rest of my life, but I think things will get a little better as time passes. Thanks to the comfort, support, and help from many people, I am gathering strength and working hard."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original