A factory owner in South Korea has been sentenced to three years in prison after seriously injuring a Thai migrant worker by discharging high-pressure air into his rectum with an industrial air gun.
The Suwon District Court convicted the man, who is in his 60s, of aggravated assault and violating the Labour Standards Act on Thursday (15 Oct).
The assault occurred on 20 Feb at the man’s factory at a metal-cleaning factory in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.
The Thai worker, who is in his 40s, was bent over at his workstation when the owner approached him.
According to the court, the employer held the worker’s lower body, inserted the nozzle of an industrial air gun into his rectum, and discharged high-pressure air for around seven seconds.
Source: The Chosun Daily
The worker reportedly told him that he was in pain, but the employer continued for some time before stopping.
He sustained serious internal injuries, including a rectal perforation measuring about 10cm, and required emergency surgery.
During the trial, the factory owner denied his actions.
He acknowledged pulling the air gun’s trigger several times but maintained that he had done so as a prank and had not intended to injure the worker.
Source: Wikitree
The court rejected his account after considering the victim’s testimony and medical records.
It found that the employer had inserted the nozzle and continued discharging compressed air even after the worker expressed pain.
The court also convicted him of assaulting another foreign worker by pushing down on the person’s head and pulling their hair, rejecting his claim that those actions were also jokes.
The judge criticised the owner’s conduct after the Thai worker was injured.
According to the court, the employer laughed while the worker was suffering and later tried to pressure him to leave, even after medical staff said he required urgent surgery at a larger hospital.
Source: The Chosun Daily
At the time, the worker was undocumented, as his South Korean work visa had expired.
The employer allegedly referred to his immigration status and the police while mimicking handcuff gestures.
The case attracted widespread attention in South Korea amid concerns that the worker’s immigration status had been used to intimidate him and deter him from seeking help.
The court also considered the fact that the factory owner had deducted the victim’s medical expenses from his wages.
It said the seriousness of the injuries, his conduct after the incident, and his lack of remorse warranted a substantial prison sentence despite the two sides having settled.
Prosecutors had previously sought a seven-year sentence for the factory owner, who was eventually sentenced to three years in prison.
The owner’s wife, who also served as a director of the company, had been charged with intimidating the Thai worker on the day of the incident.
She was accused of implying that he could be reported to the police over his undocumented immigration status and deported.
Although prosecutors initially sought a one-year sentence, the court eventually acquitted her because the victim requested she not be punished.
Also read: Michelin-starred restaurant owner in South Korea faces jail over using ants in dessert
Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.
Featured image adapted from The Chosun Daily.