By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Life prisoner Shin Chang-won has been successful with his claim that the government breached his human rights while behind bars after a court ruled in his favor.
Daegu District Court on Dec. 31 ruled that the government award Shin 5 million won in compensation for not letting him have a back problem taken care of.
``Shin has been suffering from disc problems for more than five years and the local correctional office has been lax about his treatment, which has worsened his symptoms,'' judge Lee Dong-uk said.
Last year, Shin filed a law suit against the facility, claiming that the prison management wouldn't let him get his back treated and neglected to deal with his complaint. He claimed he had suffered mental trauma and asked for 25 million won in compensation. Shin had filed the suit via post mail.
The correctional office said that since he had a record as an escapee, they had to be more vigilant with him.
Shin made headlines in 1997 when he escaped from prison after being jailed for life for burglary and murder. He had reportedly plundered the country for more than two years, making a living through burglaries, only to be caught in 1999. He was hit with another 22-year term.
While behind bars, Shin converted to the Protestant faith and vowed to promote human rights for prisoners. He is said to be studying law in order to fight for his fellow inmates.