Prosecution Seeks 17-Year Prison Sentence for 'Fake Fisherman' Kim Mo

Kim Mo (43, detained), a fraudster impersonating a fisheries worker involved in a scam worth 11.6 billion won, seen in a foreign car posted on his social media account.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The prosecution has demanded a 17-year prison sentence for Kim Mo (43), a "fisherman" who is on trial for a "10 billion won squid business fraud." Kim is also under separate investigation after exposing that he provided money and gifts to influential figures in the legal and media sectors.

On the afternoon of the 13th, the prosecution requested the court to "sentence him to 17 years in prison" during the sentencing hearing of Kim's trial for fraud under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, held at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 22 (Presiding Judge Yang Cheolhan).

On this day, the prosecution emphasized, "The damage amounts to 11.6 billion won, the victims were threatened, and most of the damages have not been recovered," adding, "He deliberately deceived the victims with lies, showing a bad nature of the crime." The court scheduled the sentencing for the 14th of next month.

Earlier, Kim was indicted on charges of fraud under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes for receiving about 11.62 billion won from seven people between June 2018 and last January under the pretext of investment funds for ship operation and squid trading business. He deceived the victims by claiming, "You can earn 3 to 4 times the profit within a few months," but investigations revealed that he neither operated ships nor engaged in the squid trading business.

Kim is also accused of threatening victims who protested to get their investment money back by bringing along his aides. During the trial, Kim admitted to the fraud charges and submitted letters of apology to the court several times. However, he denies the charges of threats and other accusations.

Meanwhile, the police transferred seven people to the prosecution without detention on the 9th for allegedly receiving money and gifts from Kim, including former special prosecutor Park Youngsoo, current prosecutor Lee Mo, deputy chief prosecutor (former chief prosecutor of Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office), former Chosun Ilbo editorial writer Lee Donghun, TV Chosun anchor Eom Seongsup, JoongAng Ilbo editorial writer Lee Mo, and TV Chosun reporter Jeong Mo.

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