"I just came out because I smelled it".Current police accused of prostitution 'not guilty'

ⓒYonhap News Agency

A police officer suspected of prostitution was acquitted of the allegation that he "just came out because he smelled it" even after paying for prostitution.

On the 10th, the Seoul Eastern District Court's Criminal Appeals Department 1-2 (Chief Judge Kim Chang-hyun, Kim Sung-hoon, Jang Chan) acquitted A (28) of violating the Sex Trade Punishment Act, breaking the first trial that sentenced him to a fine of 1.5 million won.

In January 2021, when he was a college student, A was put on trial for prostitution of a foreign woman for 180,000 won at a business in Suji-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do.

A denied the allegations altogether, saying, "I thought it was a simple massage parlor, but I just came out because I smelled unpleasant in the room."

The first trial found A guilty of depositing 180,000 won to the head of the business, the text message from the head of the business was difficult to see as a simple massage reservation, and that A's personal information and "good guy" were written on the ledger of the business.

The business was found to have written "bad guy" on its ledger if there was a problem, such as making a special request.

However, the second trial court overturned the first trial and acquitted it, saying, "It is difficult to say that there was enough evidence of sexual intercourse between the defendant and the prostitution woman." It is judged that it is difficult to see it as evidence of actual sexual activity because the head of the business who wrote the books is not at the scene of prostitution.

The court said, "It is unusual to claim that 180,000 won was not refunded without sexual activity," but it cannot be ruled out that A gave up 180,000 won rather than raising his work because he was exposed by sending a driver's license to the head of the department.

The prosecution appealed against the ruling.