A 31-year-old man, called the "Elevator Man," who has a prior conviction for rape and battery, had a lower court sentence of a 12-year jail term upheld by the Supreme Court Monday.
The highest court rejected Oh's plea that he should be held responsible for two rapes but be spared from 15 counts of sexual assault because he only masturbated in front of women.
According to court records, Oh was charged with repeated sexual harassment and rapes targeting women in elevators at night in the period from 2005 to 2008 in apartment buildings in Yongin areas.
"Although Oh claimed that he didn't deal any physical harm to the women in front of whom he masturbated and denied any physical contact whatsoever, the court sees his activities as causing the victims to feel shame and threatened, being equivalent in terms of mental duress to sexual assault," the court said in its ruling.
The lower courts ruled that the accused didn't show any signs of remorse, and the victims and their families are still subject to extreme stress, which they cited as grounds for giving him a 12-year jail term.
foolsdie@koreatimes.co.kr
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