S. Korean Man Gets Life for Fatal Subway Fire

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, August 06, 2003

S. Korean Man Gets Life for Fatal Subway Fire

A man charged with starting a subway fire in South Korea that killed 198 people was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday.

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A man charged with starting a subway fire in South Korea that killed 198 people was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday.

Kim Dae-han, 56, was accused of starting the Feb. 18 blaze by igniting a carton filled with gasoline inside a subway train in Daegu, South Korea's third-largest city.

The Daegu District Court convicted him Wednesday of arson and homicide.

Prosecutors had asked for the death penalty, but the court gave Kim a life sentence, saying he was repentant and appeared to have been mentally unstable when he committed the crime.

The fire engulfed one six-car train, then spread to another that pulled into the station a few minutes later, killing at least 198 people and injuring 147 others.

About 30 relatives of the victims were at the court hearing and angrily protested the verdict, calling it too lenient, said South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

The court also gave jail terms of four and five years to two drivers of the trains, and three-year terms for two subway officials, on negligent manslaughter charges for failing to evacuate passengers. Three other subway officials received suspended jail terms on same charges.

Both prosecutors and the accused can appeal the verdicts within a week.

Source: Agencies

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