Man gets suspended sentence for stalking wife with over 700 messages

A man in his 60s has received a suspended prison sentence for stalking his wife during their separation, a court ruled on June 13. The man was found guilty of violating the Stalking Crime Punishment Act.

He sent his 50-year-old wife approximately 730 text messages and made calls over a 10-month period starting in December 2022. The stalking also included waiting near his mother-in-law's apartment in Incheon in October 2023.

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I needed to contact her for child-related issues, and I didn't intend to cause fear.

During the investigation, it was revealed that the man sent messages to his wife, who works at a school, implying he would meet with the principal and vice-principal. He also threatened to post information about her online. He even sent a photo of himself standing in front of his mother-in-law's house, demanding a response from his wife.

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I went to my mother-in-law's house to offer holiday greetings.

The defendant argued that the contact was necessary for child-related matters and that he did not intend to instill fear. He also claimed he visited his mother-in-law's home for holiday greetings. However, the court determined that the frequency and nature of the messages clearly indicated actions against his wife's will, causing her anxiety and fear.

Presiding Judge Park In-beom stated, "Despite causing significant mental distress to the victim through long-term stalking, he has not received forgiveness from the victim," citing this as a reason for the sentence. The man received a sentence of 8 months in prison, suspended for 2 years, along with 120 hours of community service and a probation order.

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Despite causing significant mental distress to the victim through long-term stalking, he has not received forgiveness from the victim.