Supreme Court rules special intimidation charge does not hold in incident where a weapon was left in front of Han Dong-hoon’s home
Supreme Court ruling on special intimidation charge, key issues in the weapon-and-lighter incident and reasons for remand Check whether it is established after leaving the scene and quickly review the key points of the ruling
The Supreme Court has ruled that the aggravated intimidation charge against a man in his 40s who was indicted for leaving a knife and lighter outside the home of former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon does not hold, and sent the case back to the Seoul High Court for retrial.
Mr. Hong was brought to trial in October 2023 on charges of leaving a knife and an ignition lighter in front of the entrance door of an apartment in Dogokdong, Gangnamgu, Seoul. In the first and second trials, the aggravated intimidation charge was upheld and he was sentenced to one year in prison. However, he was acquitted of violating the Stalking Punishment Act.
The Supreme Court found that Hong did not threaten the victim while carrying a dangerous object, but instead left the object in front of the entrance door and then left the scene, so the elements of the aggravated intimidation offense were not met. The court cited the fact that when the victim discovered it, the defendant had already left the scene and was not in actual control of it.