Lawyer Who Stole 200 Million Won in Legal Fees After Falling Into Gambling Addiction Arrested

A lawyer who swindled more than 200 million won under the pretext of taking on legal cases has been arrested by police after more than a year on the run.

The Incheon Michuhol Police Station recently arrested a male lawyer in his 50s, identified as A, on charges of fraud and referred him to the prosecution.

A is accused of deceiving eight clients from late 2023 until recently, pocketing 240 million won under the guise of legal retainer fees and settlement money.

Investigations revealed that after receiving the retainer fees, A failed to provide any updates on the progress of the cases and completely cut off contact with his clients.

During police questioning, A reportedly stated, "I fell into gambling while handling a gambling-related case," and admitted that he spent the money he received on gambling.

Police had been investigating the case after receiving multiple complaints against A from late 2024 through last year.

In April of last year, police arrested A and requested an arrest warrant, but the prosecution did not file for the warrant, citing "insufficient evidence," after which A went into hiding.

Despite multiple summons, A remained at large for about a year. Following an investigation, police apprehended him at a lodging facility in South Jeolla Province on June 21 and re-applied for an arrest warrant.

The court issued an arrest warrant for A, citing concerns that he might flee.

Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Lee Da-in | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.