A 41-year-old security worker in South Korea took two snacks — a Choco Pie and a custard cake — worth 1,050 won ($0.72) at his workplace last year and was later fined 50,000 won ($34.21) for theft. On Nov. 27, the Jeonju District Court overturned that ruling and acquitted the man, Yonhap reported.
The lower court had convicted the defendant for taking and eating the snacks without permission from the logistics company in Wanju last January. However, the appellate panel noted that 39 drivers and security staff testified that taking snacks from the refrigerator had never been considered an issue, as the drivers had always allowed them to do so.
According to the security worker’s labor union, he was «relieved and grateful to restore his honor and that of his colleagues.» He also attributed the acquittal to the judges’ compassion and the strong public interest in the case.
«Based on such circumstances, it is difficult to recognize the defendant’s intent to steal at the time,» Yonhap cited the appellate panel as saying.
