8-Month Sentence for 14.4 Billion Won Jeonse Fraudster? Judge's 'Slip of the Tongue' Sparks Controversy

A jeonse fraudster who swindled 14.4 billion won was ultimately sentenced to eight years in prison on appeal, after a bizarre judicial slip of the tongue had initially resulted in a sentence of only eight months.

The Daejeon District Court's Criminal Division 2-2 overturned the original verdict in the second trial of the defendant, identified as A, who was charged with fraud.

A is accused of deceiving 127 victims in the Daejeon area over two years starting in 2021, pocketing approximately 14.4 billion won in security deposits.

Investigations revealed that the perpetrators committed the crimes by constructing multi-family housing through "no-capital gap investment," despite having no ability to return the deposits.

The case sparked significant controversy during the first trial when the sentence read aloud by the judge differed from the sentence written in the written judgment.

During the first sentencing hearing held in February, the court announced, "We sentence the main culprit A to eight months in prison."

In contrast, two accomplices were given heavier prison sentences of six years and two years and six months, respectively.

However, when the defendant's side received the written judgment a few days later, A's sentence was recorded as eight years, not eight months.

The presiding judge had misspoken the number while reading the verdict.

A's side immediately demanded a correction to the written judgment, arguing that "what was announced verbally in court takes precedence."

The actual written judgment contained a stern reprimand, noting that A had led the crime but showed no remorse and made no efforts to restore the victims' losses.

However, in accordance with legal regulations, the written judgment was corrected, and A's first-instance sentence was finalized at eight months in prison, as announced in court.

The prosecution immediately appealed, arguing that "an eight-month sentence is too lenient."

The appellate court accepted the prosecution's argument and sentenced A to eight years in prison, the sentence that should have been handed down originally.

The appellate court pointed out, "The defendant's crime is very grave, as he swindled 14.4 billion won from numerous victims who were economically vulnerable."

The court further rebuked the defendant, stating, "Despite leading the crime, the defendant continues to evade responsibility by claiming his role was merely auxiliary, even up to the second trial."

The appeals for the two accomplices were both dismissed, and their original prison sentences from the first trial were upheld.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
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