Employee of rental warehouse sentenced to 4 years in prison for embezzlement of 6.7 billion won

The perpetrator of a case in which cash amounting to several billion won disappeared from a rental warehouse near Jamsil Station in Songpa-gu, Seoul has been identified as a warehouse management employee. The court noted the planning nature of the crime and abuse of authority, leading to a prison sentence.

Presiding Judge Lee Joong-min of the Eastern District Court of Seoul sentenced A (45) to four years in prison on charges including burglary of a building at night.

A is accused of stealing over 6.7 billion won in cash from a rental warehouse in Songpa-gu, which he managed, in September of last year.

According to the investigation, A used a master number for employees to enter the warehouse rented by the victim and took cash packed in a suitcase, moving it to another warehouse for concealment. He later transferred it to another warehouse in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province to cover his tracks.

The victim reported to the police about two weeks later that "6.8 billion won had disappeared," and as the investigation intensified, A's crimes were uncovered.

During the trial, A admitted to the crime but claimed, "I only actually stole 4.2 billion won."

In response, the judge stated, "It is difficult to conclude that the amount exceeded 6.7 billion won based on the evidence presented by the prosecution." However, the court concluded that "the likelihood of blame is very high as he unlawfully entered using trust gained through his job and committed the crime in a planned manner."

A's repentance and the fact that he had no prior convictions for similar offenses were considered mitigating factors.

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