Illustrative image. Not related to this article. [Getty Images Bank]
Illustrative image. Not related to this article. [Getty Images Bank]

A man who threw hot coffee in a part-time worker's face at a cafe in Namyangju and then blamed her for the incident has been arrested. He threatened retaliation after being questioned by police.

JTBC's crime affairs program reported Monday on the account of a cafe owner, identified as A, in Namyangju.

According to the owner, a male customer identified as B entered the cafe at around 9:44 a.m. on Aug. 17 and ordered three beverages.

A female part-time worker, identified as C, was working alone at the time. After preparing the drinks, she placed them on the pickup counter and called out B's number. B waited without noticing, then suddenly demanded to know why his order had not been given to him.

C told him the drinks were on the pickup counter and that his number had been called three times, but B flew into a rage, saying, "When I say something, you just say 'I'm sorry' — why do you keep talking back?"

Unable to contain his anger, B struck the cups of coffee on the counter toward C, burning her face. He then walked out of the cafe, saying, "What kind of person is this? Go ahead and call the police." Officers who responded to the call arrested him on the spot.

About two hours later, B returned to the cafe after being questioned by police, bringing bread and other items in an apparent attempt to apologize to C. She had already been taken to the emergency room, however, leaving only A at the store. B said he had "nothing to say" to A and left.

In a recorded phone call between B and an acquaintance obtained by the program, B blamed C for the incident, using a crude expression to describe her. He added that "a few burns on the face are nothing to worry about" and that he had gone back to the cafe because police had told him to "go and smooth things over."

B also threatened retaliation against A, saying, "That woman asked me in front of everyone, 'Why did you come here?' I won't forgive her. I'm going to set up a coffee vending machine right in front of the cafe."

Three cafe employees quit after the incident, saying they were too frightened to continue working there. A has filed a complaint against B on charges of defamation and obstruction of business.


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