Man Sentenced to Prison for Drugging and Robbing Woman in Incheon

A 49-year-old man has been sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison for robbing a 66-year-old woman after drugging her with a sleep-inducing medication. The Incheon District Court's Criminal Division 16, presided over by Judge Yoon Yi-jin, announced the verdict on April 14, 2025.

The defendant, identified as A, was charged with robbery after he stole jewelry worth approximately 21.8 million won from the victim, B, at a bar in Namdong-gu, Incheon, on February 6. Reports indicate that A secretly added a drug containing zolpidem, a substance used to induce sleep, to B's drink while she was momentarily away from the table.

The court noted that A had a history of six prior offenses of a similar nature and had planned the crime by waiting for the victim to be alone. The judge remarked on the severity of the crime, highlighting that A not only robbed the victim but also left her in a vulnerable state, causing her both physical and psychological harm.

In mitigation, the court considered A's mental instability due to a rare illness, his financial difficulties, and the fact that some of the stolen items were returned to the victim, as well as his expressions of remorse.