By Kang Shin-who
Staff reporter

A woman, who became notorious for savagely beating a neighbor’s cat and throwing it out a window on the 10th floor of her apartment building, was indicted without physical detention Friday for violating the Animal Protection Law, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said Friday.

It is a rare litigation case on animal cruelty here.

On top of kicking and beating the animal, the 25-year-old, better known on the Internet as the “cat assaulter,” is also suspected of having thrown the cat, named “Eunbi,” to its death from an apartment building in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, in June. The cat was found dead on the ground.

According to police and a video clip, taken by a surveillance camera, the woman, identified as Chae, brutally kicked and stepped on the Persian cat, which was wandering around a corridor of the 10th floor of the building at around 4 a.m. on June 15. Chae stated in the police investigation that she drank liquor after a quarrel with her boyfriend and vented her anger at the cat.

After the incident, Chae apologized to the cat’s owner, identified as Park, but after it was rejected, she punched Park in the face, adding an assault charge to the case, according to police.

Park, together with a civic group for animal rights, filed a complaint with the police.

The group, “Coexistence of Animal Rights on the Earth (CARE),” posted the video clip showing her cruel attacks on the animal on its homepage, causing a big stir among netizens. Under the current law, those who mistreat animals face fines of up to maximum 5 million won ($4,160). If the court finds her guilty of property destruction, she could face a maximum sentence of one year in prison or a maximum fine of 10 million won.

“Under current law, punishment for animal abuse is much lighter than it is for property destruction. But for pet owners, their animals are considered more valuable than diamonds,” Park So-youn, a spokesperson for the organization, told Yonhap News.

But she noted public opinion has been growing in favor of harsher punishment against animal cruelty. “Thanks to improved opinion, we think the judiciary will not treat the case lightly.”



'발로 차고 던지고…' 고양이 폭행녀 기소

서울중앙지검 형사1부는 이웃 주민이 기르던 애완 고양이를 오피스텔 10층 창밖으로 던져 죽인 혐의 (동물보호법 위반 등)로 채모(24.여)씨를 불구속 기소했다고 30일 밝혔다.

검찰에 따르면 채씨는 지난달 15일 오전 4시15분께 술에 취해 10층에 있는 자신의 오피스텔에서 이웃 박모씨의 페르시안 친칠라종 고양이(시가 150만원 상당)를 발로 차고 창밖으로 내던져 죽인 혐의를 받고 있다.

채씨는 같은 달 19일 박씨를 만나 고양이를 때린 사실만을 시인하며 용서를 구했으나 거절당하자, 욕설을 하고 박씨의 얼굴을 주먹으로 때리는 등 폭행한 혐의도 받고 있다.

박씨는 사라진 고양이를 찾던 중 관리실 CC(폐쇄회로)TV를 통해 채씨가 자신의 고양이를 때린 것을 확인한 뒤 동물사랑실천협회에 알렸으며, 협회는 채씨를 동물학대 혐의로 경찰에 고발했다.

동물사랑실천협회는 채씨의 고양이 학대 장면이 찍힌 CCTV 영상을 협회 홈페이지에 올렸고, 이 동영상은 '고양이 폭행녀'라는 제목으로 인터넷에 퍼져 누리꾼의 공분을 샀다.