Man sentenced to 5 yrs in prison over deadly apartment fire on Christmas

All News 15:09 September 04, 2024

SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court sentenced an elderly man to five years in prison without labor Wednesday for causing a fire at an apartment building in northern Seoul that killed three people and injured 26 others on Christmas Day last year.

The 78-year-old, surnamed Kim, was indicted after his unfinished cigarette sparked the blaze at his home on the third floor of the apartment building in the northern district of Dobong on Dec. 25, but he fled without taking any measures to put out the fire.

The blaze spread through the entire building.

Two men in their 30s, including one who jumped while carrying his 7-month-old daughter, were found in a state of cardiac arrest but later pronounced dead, and 27 others were injured. Of them, one resident who was being treated at a hospital died in June, bringing the death toll up to three.

Kim reportedly smoked while watching the game of Go on a computer for seven hours. He then left his room without completely putting out the cigarette butt, which caused nearby objects to alight. The flames eventually spread to the entire building.

Prosecutors said Kim caused the fire to grow even bigger by opening his front door and the door to the room, and still he escaped through his living room window without taking any measures.

Kim claimed the fire was not caused by his cigarette as he had completely put it out in the ashtray, but the Seoul Northern District Court dismissed his claims.

"The bereaved family members of the victims were faced with incurable pain and wounds with the loss of their loved ones, but the defendant seemed to avoid responsibility and made no effort to restore the damage, nor was he forgiven by the victims' families," the court said.