Tenant who beat landlord with blunt object over rent demands gets 10 months in prison

A tenant who beat his landlord with a blunt object after being pressed to pay overdue rent has been sentenced to prison.

The Daejeon District Court's Criminal Division 12, presided over by Judge Lee Jae-min, sentenced the defendant, identified only as A, 69, to 10 months in prison on charges of aggravated assault and aggravated property damage.

A was indicted on charges of striking landlord B with a blunt object at his residence in Dong-gu, Daejeon, in March last year, fracturing B's bones after becoming enraged when B demanded payment of overdue monthly rent. He also faces charges of smashing a balcony window at the property, which belongs to B.

The court said the nature of the crime and the manner in which it was carried out were serious, and that there was no indication the defendant had made any effort to remedy the damage. However, it cited as a mitigating factor that he had admitted to all charges and shown remorse.