Virginia Student Gets 15 Years Hard Labor in North Korea

BryanXavier · #1 03-16-2016, 01:26 AM

Dumb mistake.

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — North Korea's highest court sentenced an American tourist to 15 years in prison with hard labor on Wednesday for subversion. He allegedly attempted to steal a propaganda banner from a restricted area of his hotel at the request of an acquaintance who wanted to hang it in her church.

Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia undergraduate student, was convicted and sentenced in a one-hour trial at the North's Supreme Court. He was charged with subversion.

No further details were immediately available.

Warmbier was arrested as he tried to leave the country in early January. He was in North Korea as a tourist with a New Year's tour group.

In a statement made before his trial, he told a gathering of reporters in Pyongyang he tried to take the banner with a political slogan on it as a trophy for the mother of a friend who said she wanted to put it up in her church.

North Korea announced the arrest in late January, saying he committed an anti-state crime with "the tacit connivance of the U.S. government and under its manipulation."

Warmbier had been staying at the Yanggakdo International Hotel, which is located on an island in a river that runs through Pyongyang, the capital. It is common for sections of tourist hotels to be reserved for North Korean staff and off-limits to foreigners.

In his comments, Warmbier said he was offered a used car worth $10,000 by a member of the church. He said the church member told him the slogan would be hung on its wall as a trophy. He also said he was told that if he was detained and didn't return, $200,000 would be paid to his mother in the form of a charitable donation.

Warmbier, from Wyoming, Ohio, said he accepted the offer of money because his family is "suffering from very severe financial difficulties."

In previous cases, people who have been detained in North Korea and made a public confession often recant those statements after their release.

North Korea regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending spies to overthrow its government to enable the U.S.-backed South Korean government to control the Korean Peninsula.

U.S. tourism to North Korea is legal, but the U.S. State Department strongly advises against it.

winvens · #2 03-16-2016, 03:11 AM

Was Otto...blotto?

SirX70 · #3 03-16-2016, 03:13 AM

Brainwashed or dumbass? Hmmm....dumbass. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Oswald2001 · #4 03-16-2016, 07:41 AM

I see the subtext of what he was saying.

el_topo · #5 03-16-2016, 10:16 AM

So he's gonna do 15 years in one of their prisons, damn, it's just not worth it. When your in another country, you must respect their laws. The same applies to everyone. Although I would never visit North Korea because your obligated to bow before the image of the dictator.

icheerthebull · #6 03-16-2016, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shoelessjojackson

So he's gonna do 15 years in one of their prisons, damn, it's just not worth it. When your in another country, you must respect their laws. The same applies to everyone. Although I would never visit North Korea because your obligated to bow before the image of the dictator.

If the allegations are true we have laws against theft in the west too. Again if it's true WTF was he thinking!!! Of all the places to get caught stealing North korea would be one of the worst

bob351 · #7 03-16-2016, 12:53 PM

Idiot, Id love to go to north korea one day, I think it would be probably the most unique experience you could find on this planet.

That being said, I wouldn't go and cause shit.

Anyone else think this kid is in for tough times ahead, I cant see north korea releasing him.

thckoitin · #8 03-16-2016, 01:30 PM

I'm sure he won't do all that 15 years. But what the hell was he thinking?
Too late for tears, dumbass. Save them to prison camp, you're going to be thirsty, mate.
So stupid thing and place to do that I have zero sympathy.

That's if story told is what really happened.

flangemanager · #9 03-16-2016, 02:00 PM

Ah, well. At least his mother is now 200k richer...

Oswald2001 · #10 03-16-2016, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flangemanager

Ah, well. At least his mother is now 200k richer...

I'm guessing that the North Koreans forced him to say that.

I doubt that his mother has seen a cent.

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