A 40-Year-Old Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Extorting 1.2 Billion Won by Threatening a Doctor Over His Girlfriend's Past Relationship

On the 18th, the Changwon District Court's Criminal Division 2 (Chief Judge Kim Seong-hwan) announced that a 40-year-old man, referred to as A, was sentenced to 5 years in prison for extorting 1.2 billion won over three years by using the fact that his girlfriend had previously dated a married doctor.

A was indicted on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (extortion).

According to the court, A learned that doctor B had a past relationship with his girlfriend from March 2020 to August last year and used that knowledge as leverage.

In particular, on December 15, 2021, he allegedly called the hospital where B worked to threaten him. It was revealed that between this date and June 3 of last year, he threatened B with abusive language and extortion on a total of 146 occasions, ultimately demanding approximately 1.2 billion won.

Having threatened victim B on 146 occasions with abusive language and coercion…

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The court stated, "The defendant extorted about 1.2 billion won from the victim over a period of 2 years and 6 months by leveraging the fact that they had an affair. During the extortion process, he falsely presented himself as a member of an organized crime group, mobilizing acquaintances to make threatening calls. Considering the duration, circumstances, methods, and the amount extorted, the nature of the crime is very serious."

The court particularly pointed out A's criminal history, stating, "Even if we count only since he reached adulthood, he has received 22 criminal penalties, most of which are related to fraud, extortion, threats, and violence."

Furthermore, it criticized him for having committed a further extortion crime just 1 year and 9 months after being released from prison for past crimes, indicating a disregard for law and a lack of sense of lawfulness.

A was found to have squandered the 1.2 billion won he extorted from B on online gambling and entertainment expenses. The court explained the reason for the prison sentence, saying, "The defendant has not repaid any of the extorted money to the victim and has not sought forgiveness."

He squandered the money on online gambling and entertainment expenses.

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