A salt farm owner has been sentenced to three years in prison for exploiting a man with severe intellectual disabilities over a decade, taking more than 96 million won in wages.
According to Yonhap News, the Gwangju District Court's Criminal Division 2, led by Judge Kim Jong-seok, upheld the original sentence on October 14 for A (59), who was charged with quasi-fraud and violating the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act.
A operated a salt farm in Shinan County, South Jeolla Province, from April 2014 to August 2024, where he employed B (65), a man with severe intellectual disabilities, and exploited over 96 million won in labor costs.
In connection with this case, A's younger brother (58) and a staff member from the nursing hospital where B temporarily lived (63) were also indicted. They are accused of misusing funds from B's bank account for personal expenses. In the appeals court, A's brother received a 10-month prison sentence with a two-year probation, while the nursing staff member was sentenced to 18 months in prison with a two-year probation, similar to the first trial.
The long-term exploitation of B's labor was revealed through a comprehensive labor survey conducted in the salt farm area of Shinan County in 2023.
Previously, A had received a fine of 3 million won for violating labor standards in a prior trial related to B, which included a one-year probation. Criticism arose regarding the leniency of the punishment in light of the severity of the crime, which was also raised during last year's National Assembly audit of the courts and prosecutors. The prosecution explained that they had separated the labor standards violation case for prosecution due to the approaching statute of limitations, while the court stated it made its decision based on the applicable sentencing guidelines for labor standards violations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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