▲ This is a file photo for illustrative purposes.
A man in his 40s who installed a hidden camera in a staff restroom at a daycare center run by his wife has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison in the first trial.
Judge Ji Seon-kyung of the Suwon District Court, Criminal Division 11, handed down the prison sentence today (June 18) to the defendant, identified as A, who was indicted on charges including violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes (filming using cameras, etc.). The court also ordered him to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program and imposed a seven-year ban on employment at child and youth-related institutions.
"This crime resulted in 12 victims," Judge Ji stated. "The victims suffered significant shame and psychological trauma after being victimized for several months by the defendant, whom they had trusted within their workplace, the daycare center."
The judge further explained the sentencing, stating, "After his crimes were discovered, the defendant obstructed the victims from reporting the incident, destroyed evidence, and repeatedly gave false statements during the investigation, showing a poor attitude."
A was indicted while under arrest for installing a small camera in the first-floor staff restroom of a daycare center in Yongin from early August to December 9 of last year, illegally filming 12 staff members, including female teachers.
The daycare center is run by A's wife, and it was found that A also worked there as a driver.
It was reported that A delayed reporting the incident to the police for several days despite demands from the teachers who discovered the camera, and instead secretly hired a private firm to perform a forensic analysis in an attempt to destroy evidence.
He is also accused of further destroying evidence by flushing the SD card containing the footage down a toilet, fleeing to Donghae, Gangwon Province, and throwing the camera used in the crime into the sea.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.