Supreme Court affirms guilty verdicts against U.S. soldiers in sexual harassment case

SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- The Supreme Court on Monday affirmed an appeals court's ruling that found two U.S. military soldiers guilty of sexual harassment against a South Korean schoolgirl.

Andrew Thornton, 22, and Henry Miller, 19, both private first class with the
U.S. 8th Army, were each fined 2.5 million won (US$2,190) as the top court
dismissed their appeals over the 2007 sexual harassment case involving a
16-year-old.
The victim was heading home after late-night classes at a private institute in
Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, when the U.S. military soldiers approached her under
the influence of alcohol, the court said. Thornton grabbed her by the shoulders
and hugged her from behind, then Miller held her by the waist, it said.
The soldiers claimed in their appeal that their behavior did not amount to sexual
harassment and that they were not aware that the victim was a minor.
The top court affirmed their guilty verdicts by a district court and the high
court, noting that they behaved in a way that caused fear and anxiety to the
victim. The soldiers had previously been taught about sexual harassment in the
military, it said.
"It's a fair judgement to say that their behavior amounts to sexual harassment,"
Supreme Court Justice Park Il-hoan said.
Crimes by U.S. servicemen usually fall under local jurisdiction when they are
committed during off-duty hours as stipulated in the Status of Forces Agreement
that governs 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in Korea.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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