(EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on Oct. 2) - Brazen-Faced Rapist Anger Grows Over Light Punishment on Heinous Crime

Crime prevention is much better than cracking down after incidents have occurred.
But this is easier said than done. Therefore, getting tougher with those who
commit grave crimes such as homicide, kidnapping and sexual violence is
inevitable to avoid recurrence of violations. Now, people ask a question: What
would happen if law enforcement authorities are poor at taking preventive
measures, while judges are too lenient with brutal criminals?
The answer is simple: Any nation that can't firmly establish the rule of law,
which is the basis of democracy, will become a jungle. No one except murderers,
gangsters, drug and human traffickers, and other criminals wants to see the law
of the jungle prevail in society. That's why many countries around the world are
waging a war on crimes to maintain law and order to prevent innocent citizens
from falling victim to lawbreakers. The South Korean government is also stepping
up its campaign against violence, rape, abduction and homicide.
But the recent case of rape on an eight-year-old girl by a habitual sex offender
proves that the nation's efforts against crime are futile. The entire nation was
shocked by belated news about the horrifying sexual assault on the innocent first
grader who sustained serious injuries from the violent act in Ansan, south of
Seoul, last December. It is hard to measure the pain and trauma of the child
victim and her parents. The girl, known as Na-young, is still in the intensive
care unit of a local hospital.
Aside from the brutal nature of the crime, it is all the more regrettable to
realize that the 57-year-old brazen-faced criminal, identified as Cho, has
received only a 12-year prison term. How could the court become so lenient with a
perpetrator who has repeatedly denied his criminal act despite strong evidence
presented against him by investigators? The prosecution demanded life
imprisonment for him at the trial. But judges handed down a lighter sentence,
taking into account the fact that he committed the crime under the influence of
alcohol.
Public anger is exploding over the softer-than-expected punishment. More than
400,000 Internet users have signed a petition through the online portal site
Daum, calling for a retrial, the imposition of capital punishment against Cho,
and compensation for the victim and her family. Even President Lee Myung-bak
expressed regret over the ruling in the case during a weekly Cabinet meeting.
The government, law enforcement authorities and the court have to overhaul the
whole justice system in order to get tougher with criminals like Cho, who has
shown no sign of repentance over his act. The authorities have long been
engrossed in cracking down on anti-government demonstration, while neglecting
soaring crimes against children and women. It is imperative to mobilize all
possible means to fight against grave crimes to make the nation a safe place to
live. It is also necessary to strengthen surveillance on habitual offenders and
toughen the sentencing guidelines on major crimes such as murder, kidnapping and
sexual violence.
(END