MASTERMIND OF SK ONLINE SEX RING GETS 40 YEARS IN PRISON

A Seoul court sentenced the mastermind of one of the country's largest online sex trafficking rings to 40 years in prison, the South Korean Yonhap news agency reported.

The Seoul Central District Court found Cho Ju-bin, 25, guilty of violating laws to protect minors from sexual abuse and of operating a criminal ring to make profits by producing and selling abusive videos. The court also ordered to make public his personal details for 10 years and ban him from working at children-related facilities for 10 years after his release.

Cho also has to wear an electronic bracelet for 30 years and pay a forfeiture of 100 million won ($90,000.) "The accused has widely distributed sexually abusive content that he created by luring and threatening many victims," the court said, adding that Cho caused his victims irreversible damage by releasing their private information.

The court said Cho should be removed from society for a long time, given "the gravity of his crimes, the sheer number of victims and damage done to them, his evil influence on society and his (unrepentant) attitude."

Earlier this year, the online predator was indicted on 14 counts of criminal allegations. Cho was accused of organizing a criminal ring from last May to February this year, during which he and his accomplices blackmailed 74 women, including 16 minors, into filming sexually abusive content and selling them to the members of Baksabang, an online chat room on Telegram.