A man in his 60s who attempted to set himself on fire at a community center saying that officials were ignoring him has been sentenced to prison.
Judge Choi Ji-young of the 4th Criminal Division of the Busan District Court sentenced Mr. A to 1 year and 6 months in prison today (18th), who was charged with special obstruction of execution and preparatory arson of a building in Hyeonju.
Mr. A is accused of spraying oil on his body and attempting to set himself on fire with a portable lighter at around 3:50 pm on November 23 last year in the civil affairs office on the first floor of a community center in Busanjin-gu, Busan.
At that time, the police officers and others immediately sprayed a fire extinguisher, and the fire was not actually lit.
According to the ruling, Mr. A has been dissatisfied with the fact that the public official in charge of social welfare work at the community center does not respond properly.
In the meantime, it is known that he committed the crime because he was angry that the official in charge of the senior job application qualifications had not been properly informed.
Judge Choi explained the reason for the sentencing, saying, "We prepared the tools of the crime in advance and interfered with the execution of public affairs, and prepared arson in a space where many people were present."
(Photo = Courtesy of the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, Yonhap News)