US soldier jailed for rape in South Korea
US soldier jailed for rape in South Korea
A US soldier based in South Korea has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping a teenager near his base.
The 21-year-old broke into the studio room of the woman and carried out a sexual attack lasting several hours, threatening her with scissors.
The judge called it a “violent and abnormal assault”.
The sentence was one of the longest given to a US soldier in South Korea. US government and military officials have apologised publicly for the rape.
Crimes committed by US soldiers in the past have sparked public protests against the American military presence in South Korea.
The soldier, whose name has not been made public, attacked the 18-year-old in the early hours of 24 September.
He broke into her room near the his base in Dongducheon city.
The court said the soldier had also stolen 5,000 won ($4.50; £2.80) from the woman before he fled.