Incheon court sentences man to 7 years for 2008 child sexual assault

A Pakistani national in his 40s has been sentenced to seven years in prison for the sexual assault of two brothers at an Islamic mosque in Incheon 18 years ago. The Incheon District Court Bucheon Branch ruled that the defendant targeted the children, who were aged 7 and 9 at the time, after learning their father was incarcerated.

The crimes occurred in September 2008. Under South Korean law, the statute of limitations does not apply to rape crimes committed against children under the age of 13. The victims' parents reported the abuse to police in 2024 after the children disclosed the incidents.

The court found the victims' testimonies to be highly credible, noting they provided specific and atypical descriptions that could not have been fabricated or influenced by external pressure. In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a seven-year employment restriction at institutions involving children, adolescents, or persons with disabilities.