Busan: Prosecutors on Wednesday demanded a not guilty verdict for a 78-year-old woman, who was convicted 61 years ago for biting off the tongue of her attempted rapist, during her retrial at a court here. The case centers on the woman, named Choi Mal-ja, who was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, in 1964 for biting off 1.5 centimeters of her attempted rapist's tongue. At that time, Choi claimed self-defense, but the courts dismissed her claims. The perpetrator was only charged with trespassing and blackmail and sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the retrial came after Choi filed for an appeal in 2020, insisting again her act constituted self-defense, and the Supreme Court agreed to her claim three years later. In the retrial at the Busan District Court in the southeastern port city, prosecutors demanded her acquittal, saying they have concluded her attack on the attempted rapist was a legitimate act as a sexual assault victim.
Her attack on the perpetrator of a sexual assault crime that was suddenly committed cannot be said to be excessive and illegal, the prosecutors said, adding the prosecution of the past failed to fulfill its role at that time and instead went in the opposite direction.
Choi said she has lived as a criminal for the past 61 years and expressed hope that her descendants would live a happy life without sexual violence. Her sentencing hearing is slated for 2 p.m. on Sept. 10.