By Alex Jensen
SEOUL
A South Korean military court sentenced an army sergeant to 45 years in prison Thursday for leading the abuse and beating that led to the death of a junior comrade in April.
The court - based on the outskirts of the capital city of Seoul - ruled that the sergeant, identified only by his surname Lee, was responsible for injuries to the 23-year-old soldier at their unit on the country's east coast that resulted in his death.
Another sergeant faces 30 years in prison; two corporals 25 years; a staff sergeant 15 years; and a private first class three months with six months of probation on charges of inflicting injuries.
The conscript - surnamed Yoon - choked after being hit by six of his colleagues while eating snacks in his barracks.
The army ruled that his death was due to damage to his skeletal muscle caused by repeated brutal assaults.
In August, President Park Geun-hye attempted to quell public concern for the wellbeing of military conscripts by calling for the "exemplary punishments" of those behind the death of the conscript.
Park told a cabinet meeting of her concern that previous measures have failed to root out bullying in the military -- as highlighted by other high-profile cases, such as June’s shooting spree by another bullied conscript at a front-line unit near North Korea.
Regarding the death of Private Yoon, Park had urged "a thorough probe into all assailants and abettors."
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