A woman in her thirties has faced the judiciary's wrath after she falsely accused her biological father—a man who had previously supported her education abroad—of rape. This accusation was made in retaliation for his refusal to provide her with additional financial support, leading to her being sentenced to serve time in prison.
The world of law took notice as it was reported on the first of the month that the Criminal Division 1 of the Namyangju Branch of the Uijeongbu District Court, overseen by Presiding Judge Choi Chi-bong, delivered a sentence of 10 months imprisonment to a woman identified only as A. Her charges included defamation, obstruction of business, and insult.
In a harrowing tale of betrayal, a daughter who had once been financially backed by her father even during her studies abroad was now found guilty of falsely branding him as a rapist due to his unwillingness to continue monetary assistance. This sentence reflects the courts' stance on such grave allegations. [Image unrelated to the case. Photo by Pixabay@Engin_Akyurt]
A's legal troubles began when she was brought to trial for posts made on an online community. Between May and June of the preceding year, she made 11 posts titled "I am a victim of familial sexual violence. Please look at this," casting defamatory light on her biological father, B.
Within these posts, A painted a harrowing yet fabricated image of persistent abuse. She claimed, "I have been continuously sexually assaulted by my biological father since I was four years old, and my mother also suffered domestic and sexual violence," further alleging a financial settlement, stating, "The matter was settled with 30 million won in damages," and insisted that "Severe punishment is necessary."
Her damaging actions didn't stop there; she publicly shared B's real name and details about his business, causing significant disruption to his professional life.
Moreover, A didn't limit her falsehoods to accusations against her father alone. She made six additional posts alleging that B had remarried a woman, C, with whom he was supposedly engaged in an extramarital affair.
In a legal maneuver in February 2021, A initiated a lawsuit at the Incheon District Court, seeking damages for alleged sexual assault by B. However, her claims fell apart in court as she could not substantiate any accusations with evidence of illegal conduct.
During her criminal proceedings, A fervently maintained the truthfulness of her allegations, but the court dismissed her assertions, pointing to the lack of supporting evidence from the prior lawsuit. The court highlighted the absence of concrete proof that A had been habitually subjected to sexual assault by her father.
The judge found it credible to dismiss A's claims as fabrications, especially given her history of receiving financial support from her father during her overseas studies and upon returning home. It was noted that her rape accusation followed closely on the heels of her failed demand for a substantial sum to start a café, which B had refused.
In delivering its verdict, the court underscored the malicious intent behind A's actions, stating, "She spread false information about the victims out of dissatisfaction with being denied financial support. The reputations tarnished by her actions cannot be completely rehabilitated."
The court elaborated on its rationale for the sentencing, emphasizing, "The likelihood of reoffending is high, given that she continued to circulate similar falsehoods even after being charged. Coupled with the victims' strong pleas for severe punishment, these factors contributed significantly to the decision."