An appeals court upheld a lower court ruling Sunday acquitting a defendant of home invasion, saying visiting a female colleague’s home when her husband was absent di not constitute a crime.
“The defendant visited his female colleague’s home with her consent, which can hardly lead to the conclusion that he intended to commit adultery or other behavior not accepted generally in society,” said presiding judge Kim Han-sung of the criminal appeals panel at the Suwon District Court, rejecting an appeal by the prosecution. “It can hardly be regarded that it broke the peaceful life of her husband who was a co-living rights owner."
The chief judge also said that it is natural behavior generally allowed in the Korean society if one of a couple invites a guest even if the other is absent. As a result, it is unfair if the guest is punished on the grounds that a guest is of the opposite sex or the invitation hours are late in the evening, Kim added.
A 38-year-old man, identified as Oh, was indicted in October, 2010, for staying for about one hour after visiting his female colleague’s home when her husband was absent. He was ruled innocent at the first trial.
법원 "남편 허락 없어도 간통 정황 있어야 주거침입"
수원지법 형사항소3부(김한성 부장판사)는 여성 직장동료의 남편이 없는 시간에 그 집에 함께 들어갔다는 사실만으로 주거침입에 해당하지는 않는다면서 오모(38)씨에 대해 1심과 마찬가지로 무죄를 선고했다고 7일 밝혔다.
재판부는 "피고인이 여성인 직장동료의 집에 들어갈 당시 동료의 동의를 얻어 함께 들어갔고 간통이나 사회적으로 용인되지 않는 행위를 하기 위한 목적을 지녔다고 단정할 수 없어 공동 주거권자인 남편의 주거 평온이 깨졌다고 볼 수 없다"며 검찰의 항소를 기각했다.
또 "부부 중 어느 한 쪽이 없어도 다른 쪽이 손님을 초대하는 것은 당연히 사회적으로 허용되는 행위이므로 손님이 이성이라거나 밤 늦은 시간이었다는 이유로 가벌의 범위를 확장하는 것은 부당하다는 원심은 적법하다"고 밝혔다.
오씨는 2010년 10월 직장동료 김모(여)씨의 남편이 집을 비운 사이 김씨 부부의 집을 방문해 1시간 가량 머무른 혐의로 기소됐지만 1심에서 무죄를 선고받았다.
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