Office worker sued for defamation after protesting against abusive co-worker, 'not guilty'

A man in his 30s who was sued for defamation after protesting against a co-worker who verbally abused him was acquitted.

According to the legal community on the 28th, the Mokpo Branch of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office decided not to indict Employee A, who was accused of defamation, on the 11th.

In August 2020, Mr. A was sent to the prosecution on charges of defamation by gossiping about fellow employee B in a public place.

At that time, it was found that Mr. A went to Mr. B's office and said, "Please call me late at night and explain why it was your fault for not being promoted."

In response, Mr. B said, "I never said anything about the promotion," and claimed that Mr. A had damaged his reputation by spreading false information.

However, Mr. A denied the charges, saying, “Mr. B called me first and started verbally abusive language, and I only protested against it.”

He also emphasized that he had asked his supervisor for help in this regard, but he did not receive it, so he went directly to the office.

Mokpo Police Station, which received the case, decided not to forward the case last July.

“It is difficult to say that what Mr. A said in a public place infringes on Mr. B’s social values,” and that “this is a simple protest against the verbal abuse made by Mr. B.”

However, as Mr. B disobeyed the police's decision, the case was transferred to the prosecution last October.

The prosecution, which reviewed the case, decided not to indict, saying, "We carefully reviewed the objection and investigation records, but there is no evidence to change the police's decision not to forward the case."

Lawyer Ahn Jun-pyo of Daeryun Law Firm, who represented Mr. A, explained, "In order to establish a crime of defamation, specific facts must be stated that lower the social evaluation with the intention of damaging the reputation of others." He added, "It is difficult to objectively view the remarks made by Mr. A in the process of protesting against Mr. B as statements that could infringe on social values."

[View full article] - An office worker who was sued for defamation after protesting against a co-worker who verbally abused him was acquitted (link)