Thieves with Period Can Go Scot-free
The Korea Herald
June 7, 2002

The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a woman's menstrual period can be regarded as a mental and physical disorder which provides grounds for setting aside punishment for impulsive thefts.

The Supreme Court ruling overturned the Seoul District Court's verdict that found guilty a 55-year-old woman who was indicted last July on charges of stealing 169 clothing items worth 3 million won ($2,450) in 31 separate instances in Seoul while she was menstruating.

"The defendant is believed to have committed the thefts due to her menstruation. Like a mentally deranged patient, she was unable to control her impulses, so the original verdict should be set aside," a justice of the Supreme Court said.