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A 64-year-old Buddhist monk has been given an 18-month prison term for assaulting a woman after she refused his sexual advances, according to the Cheongju District Court on Monday.
Charges against the monk included assault, fraud and intimidation. The monk is reported to have assaulted a 52-year old woman at a house in Gamgok-myeon, Eumseong-gun, North Chungcheong Province, on Feb. 9, 2022.
He allegedly demanded sex, and when she refused his request, the monk slapped her across the face and assaulted her.
He is also charged with fraud for deceiving the victim and obtaining 9 million won ($6,700), claiming he would invest in antiques and repay her.
About a month after the initial sexual assault, he reportedly assaulted the victim again with a heating pad, leaving her with injuries that required five weeks of medical treatment. The offender sent threatening text messages to her several times after.
During the trial, the monk said he had no intention of defrauding the victim and that he failed to repay her due to slow business with the antiques.
He denied the additional charges of violence, claiming he only threw the heating pad on the floor.
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