A former Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) employee who molested same-sex subordinates by touching their ears and buttocks has been sentenced to prison. According to the KPGA on the 18th, the Seongnam District Court Seongnam Support Criminal Division 6 (Judge Jeong Yeon-ju) sentenced A, who was charged with sexual harassment by force on the 15th, to six months in prison and two years’ probation, and ordered him to take a 40-hour sexual assault treatment course and register his identity information .For years, A had been sexually harassing the same male subordinates by touching their ears and buttocks in offices and toilets. Ahn, who worked in a position managing all aspects of human resources management within the company, including sexual misconduct prevention training, was sent to trial in February last year after police and prosecution investigations confirmed the allegations .In addition to the nine accusers, four people who were groped but did not file a complaint were also called to testify in the case.” Touching the buttocks and ears, even between people of the same sex, can cause feelings of shame and disgust unless the relationship is very intimate or is done with mutual consent,” the court said. “Considering the circumstances in which the groping took place, the working relationship between the accused and the victims, and the words and actions of the accused while touching the victims, the accused’s actions constituted groping,” the court said .KPGA also held an internal personnel committee last year and notified A of his dismissal, and he has since left the company.”We hope that the organisational culture of domestic sports organisations will become more mature through this case, and it should be an opportunity for the human rights of association secretariat staff to be enhanced,” said Heo Jun, head of the KPGA union. Ahn, who denied 안전놀이터 the allegations in court, is reportedly likely to appeal the first instance ruling.