'Ghost Researcher' Registered to Embezzle 1.3 Billion Won... Private University Professor Sentenced to Prison Again in Second Trial

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[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] A private university professor who embezzled about 1.3 billion KRW in research funds by registering so-called 'ghost researchers' in government-supported projects was sentenced to prison again in the appellate court.

According to the legal community on the 5th, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 13 (Presiding Judges Choi Suhwan, Choi Seongbo, Jeong Hyunmi) sentenced Professor A (64) and businessman B to three years in prison on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (fraud).

In April 2014, while serving as the president of a design-related association, A was selected as a participating institution in a government-supported project and signed a business agreement with the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) and the Korea Institute of Design Promotion (KIDP).

Subsequently, A and businessman B are accused of listing ghost researchers in the business plan and receiving 690 million KRW from KIAT under the name of service and research funds from June 2014 to April of the following year.

Additionally, Professor C, who participated in another government-supported project in 2015 along with A and B, was investigated to have embezzled 600 million KRW over about two years using the same method.

In the trial on this day, Professor A and businessman B were sentenced to three years in prison, reduced from four years in the first trial. Professor C, who was sentenced to two years in prison with a three-year probation in the first trial for the same charges, received the same sentence in the appellate court.

While C admitted to the charges, A and B reportedly claimed innocence during the trial, arguing that the project was conducted normally and that they did not deceive the victim institutions to receive research funds.

The first trial court recognized the guilt, stating, "It can be acknowledged that the defendants falsely listed individuals who did not actually participate in the research as researchers in the business plan or falsely recorded participation rates to receive labor costs."

It added, "The method of crime is quite malicious, as they planned from before winning the project to embezzle service fees and labor costs. They also showed no remorse by submitting false documents, making false statements to people around them, and denying the crime."

However, considering that C admitted and reflected on the crime, that A and B led the crime, and that C actually conducted research, C was sentenced to probation.

The appellate court also acknowledged their charges but cited reasons for mitigation, stating, "Considering that meaningful research results were actually produced and some damages were compensated."

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