03/12/2024
KOREAN FINED P100,000 and SENTENCED TO 2 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR KILLING AN ASPIN.
Jung Seongho, the Korean responsible for the cruel killing of an Aspin dog named Erika, has been found guilty by the Metropolitan Trial Court (Branch 3), Manila.
This verdict comes after months of legal pursuit, during which PAWS stood by the witnesses, offering unwavering support to ensure Erika’s story was heard. The perpetrator also faced additional charges of Alarm and Scandal, Assault, and Malicious Mischief, filed against him in May 2024.
Erika was a friendly stray who found a home with a community of individuals at a restaurant in Malate, Manila. She brought joy to patrons and became a cherished part of the establishment. On March 9, 2024, Jung stabbed the gentle dog four (4) times using a kitchen knife of the same restaurant where he was dining and which Erika called “home”.
In his decision dated November 12, 2024, Presiding Judge Honorable Peter Steve G. Lim said that the Prosecution was able to prove Jung’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Evidence and eyewitness account showed that Jung charged towards Erika who was not showing any “antagonistic behavior” as she was sitting quietly in the outdoor area of the restaurant. Jung stabbed her “several times causing its (the dog’s) eventual death.”
Thanks to the quick action of witnesses who executed a ‘citizen’s arrest’ and then called authorities right after the stabbing incident, the Jung was immediately arrested and jailed prior to the formal hearings.
Erika’s case underscores the importance of quickly calling law enforcement officers on top of just taking a video of the crime for posting on social media or as evidence.
If you witness any acts of cruelty against animals, please call the police immediately. Law enforcement officers can arrest animal offenders on the spot if they are caught in the act or right after the crime has been committed.
Learn what ordinary citizens did right in this case with our post here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ETjJ5Xrir/?mibextid=WC7FNe
