Busanjin-gu Office Official Caught Embezzling Social Organization Support Funds

Sent to Prosecution on Charges of Embezzlement in the Course of Duty

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Yoseop] A public official at a district office in Busan was caught embezzling subsidies intended for local non-profit organizations and using them for personal purposes, and has been referred to the prosecution.

On the 16th, the Busanjin Police Station in Busan announced that they had sent A (male, in his 50s), a public official affiliated with the Busanjin District Office, to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment on charges including embezzlement in the course of duty.

According to the police, A is suspected of embezzling 3.7 million won in local government subsidies meant for five local government-affiliated organizations over a period of about two months starting from July last year and using the funds personally.

The police began investigating in October last year after receiving the case from the Busanjin District Audit Office.

Police investigations revealed that A, who was in charge of subsidy affairs for social organizations at the community center, directly managed the bank accounts containing the subsidies for five local organizations and withdrew cash about ten times.

Local government subsidies for organizations are usually managed directly by the respective organizations, and the organization's person in charge submits a settlement report detailing the usage to the responsible public official. However, it was confirmed that A unusually managed the organizations' bank accounts himself.

This fact was uncovered during an internal audit by the district, and A returned all the funds he had used from the organizations. The district office has reassigned A to a different position.

A district official stated, "A has been reassigned to a department unrelated to social organization subsidies," and added, "We plan to make a final decision on disciplinary action depending on the trial outcome."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.