"Must Solicit Bribes" Tax Accountant Who Embezzled 1.6 Billion Won from Clients Receives Reduced Sentence in Appeal Trial

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Ju Cheol-in] A tax accountant in his 40s, who was accused of deceiving clients by claiming that tax benefits were possible if they bribed tax office officials and embezzling about 1 billion KRW, received a reduced sentence in the appellate court.

The Changwon District Court Criminal Division 1 (Chief Judge Choi Bok-gyu) announced on the 24th that it overturned the original sentence of 6 years imprisonment for tax accountant A (45), who was charged with fraud and embezzlement, and sentenced him to 5 years imprisonment.

A was charged with embezzling a total of 1.6 billion KRW from about 20 clients over more than ten occasions while operating a tax accounting office in Changwon, Gyeongnam, from 2018 until last year.

A told clients to transfer tens of millions of KRW to accounts he provided, claiming, "If you send money to the account I specify, your transaction records will increase, allowing you to receive tax benefits," or "You need to bribe tax officials." He used the money for gambling funds and repaying personal debts.

The appellate court stated the sentencing rationale, saying, "The victims believed that defendant A had paid the taxes, but ended up bearing additional penalties or facing tax delinquency measures, suffering greater damages than the embezzled amount. Considering that some amounts have been returned and the defendant is showing remorse, the sentence was determined accordingly."

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