Cabinet passes proposal to toughen punishment for attempted child murder

▲ An undated file photo, provided by Yonhap News TV, of the Ministry of Justice (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

child abuse bill-revision

Cabinet passes proposal to toughen punishment for attempted child murder

SEOUL, Jan. 9 (Yonhap) -- The Cabinet on Tuesday passed a proposal to toughen the punishment for attempted child murder by ensuring that perpetrators are sentenced to real prison terms, rather than suspended sentences, the justice ministry said.

Currently, child abusers charged with attempted murder can get away with suspended prison terms because the law allows them to be sentenced to three years in prison, a sentence light enough to be eligible for suspended sentencing.

In an effort to plug the loophole, the government came up with a revision to the act on the punishment of child abuse crimes that calls for sentencing suspects of attempted child murder to at least seven years behind bars, thereby ruling out the chances of suspended terms.

After Tuesday's passage through the Cabinet, the government plans to submit the revision to the National Assembly for final approval.

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