Prosecutors recommend ex-Busan mayor get 7 years in prison for sexual assault

BUSAN, -- Prosecutors asked a judge to sentence former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don to seven years in prison for sexual assault in the workplace.

Oh is accused of sexually assaulting two female employees and injuring one of them while in office. He is also charged with filing a false complaint against YouTube channel operators who reported the accusations against him.

"Given the similarity of his crimes against the two victims, this is a workplace sex crime using his power," prosecutors said. "The victims are still suffering from the incidents and unable to resume their normal lives."

At court, the former mayor expressed remorse about what he had done.

"My life as a public servant for 50 years has come to nothing," he said, adding he would do everything to help his victims heal.

But he has claimed that his abusive behavior was one-off and not intentional and strongly denied he has caused his victims physical and mental harm.

He resigned as the leader of the nation's second-largest city on April 23 last year after admitting to his misconduct.

The timing of his admission and subsequent departure stirred controversy, as it was a week after the April 15 general election, a move widely seen as a political maneuver designed to protect his party, the ruling Democratic Party, from potential fallout from the accusations.

Early this year, the Busan District Prosecutors Office charged him on four counts, including attempted indecent assault, inflicting injury and false accusation.

His sentencing will be handed down on June 29. (Yonhap)