Marine colonel sentenced to suspended jail term for sexual harassment of male subordinate

A Marine colonel was sentenced to a suspended jail term for sexually harassing his driver, a military human rights watchdog said Friday.

The colonel, identified only by his surname Oh, was arrested on July 28 on charges of sexually assaulting the driver, a corporal, three times but was released on bail on Dec. 3.

A military court sentenced Oh to one year in prison, suspended for two years, finding him guilty of only one count of sexual assault. The court said the victim's statement on two other counts lacked credibility.

The Center for Military Human Rights Korea immediately protested, accusing the military of trying to protect Oh. It demanded the prosecution appeal.

"We raise questions about the fairness and neutrality of the trial, as the chief judge of the military court was Col. Oh's senior and the prosecutors were also from the Marine Corps," said Lim Tae-hoon, president of the center. "The prosecution should appeal against the ruling."

The Korea Herald/Asia News Network


(2010-12-31/asiaone)