A man in his 30s who deliberately caused an accident to claim 25 million won in insurance money received a guilty verdict in the appeal trial as well.

The Jeonju District Court's 1st Criminal Division upheld the original sentence of one year in prison, suspended for two years, for A (39), who was charged with violating the Special Act on Preventing Insurance Fraud. However, the community service order was reduced from 160 hours to 80 hours.

In 2021, A intentionally drove his Audi A8 into an irrigation canal in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do, disguising it as an accident to claim over 25 million won in insurance money. During the trial, he claimed, "I got out of the car due to severe vomiting while driving, and the car rolled away on its own," but the court did not accept this assertion.

The appellate court determined, based on the forensic analysis from the National Forensic Service, that A had intentionally damaged the vehicle. It pointed out, "For a car to move on its own, the gear must be in 'D' or 'N' position," adding, "Since the accident scene was on flat ground, the claim that the car moved on its own while in 'P' position lacks credibility."

Additionally, the court noted that the dashcam was not functioning at the time of the incident and questioned A's credibility since he did not visit the hospital despite experiencing severe vomiting. However, it explained that the sentence was determined considering his status as a first-time offender and the fact that the actual benefit obtained was not substantial.

Insurance fraud is a crime that undermines social trust, and the court treats it severely. This case demonstrates that attempts to unlawfully acquire insurance money cannot escape legal punishment. It serves as a wake-up call for both the insurance industry and consumers.

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