'Romance Scam' Method Fraudulently Obtaining 10 Billion Won from Victims in Their 20s

The prosecution has requested a 30-year prison sentence for a man in his 20s who defrauded a woman in her 20s out of 10 billion won using 'romance scam' tactics by posing as a romantic partner.

On the 18th, the 11th Criminal Division of the Daegu District Court (Chief Judge Lee Young-cheol) held a sentencing hearing for a man in his 20s, referred to as A, and his accomplice B, who were indicted on charges of violating the Act on Aggravated Punishment for Specific Economic Crimes (fraud) and other offenses.

The prosecution emphasized, "A committed another crime during the probation period, and the actual amount of damage is approximately 10.4 billion won, which is severely serious," and sought a harsh sentence.

"We urge for a 30-year prison term considering that there appears to be hidden crime proceeds, and all the victims are earnestly hoping for a heavy sentence."

Meticulously Conceived Crime Hiding 7 Billion Won in Crime Proceeds

A is accused of defrauding a woman in her 20s, referred to as C, of 10 billion won by exercising psychological control while posing as a romantic partner from November last year to March this year.

In particular, it was revealed that about 7 billion won of this amount was converted to cash through the 'gift certificate scam' method, making it difficult to trace the funds and hiding the crime proceeds.

Accomplice B is charged with participating in the process of cashing out the gift certificates and keeping a commission, thus violating the Act on the Regulation of Proceeds of Crime.

The prosecution sought a relatively lighter sentence of one year in prison for B, stating, "It is hard to see that he was aware of the crime proceeds before being arrested."

Conflicting Claims from Victims and Perpetrators

During the trial, A's lawyer argued, "He cooperated with the search and investigation process, and immediately transferred about 100 million won remaining in his account to the victim's account after his arrest," appealing for leniency.

A also expressed, "I will make efforts for the actual recovery of damages," and conveyed his apology to the victims.

On the other hand, the victim's lawyer strongly rebutted, stating, "There is absolutely no intention to repay the damage, and after reducing the sentence, he intends to live luxuriously with the hidden crime proceeds over 7 billion won."

Additionally, he urged for the maximum sentence by asserting, "This is a very serious, meticulous, and planned anti-human crime."

The prosecution has taken measures for the actual recovery of damages, such as applying for provisional seizure of approximately 2.9 billion won in seized items and guiding civil procedures for damages compensation.

The sentencing hearing for A and B is scheduled to take place next month on the 16th.

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