Lawyer Fees for Personal Cases Paid with Company Funds... Vice President of Corporation Receives Suspended Sentence

Using Corporate Funds for Entertainment Bars Leads to Investigation, Then 'Self-Defense' Again with Company Money

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] A vice president of a corporation who was prosecuted for paying personal attorney fees with corporate funds was sentenced to probation in the first trial.

On the 20th, Han Kyunghwan, a judge of the Criminal Division 2 at the Seoul Western District Court, announced that he sentenced Seo (57), who was indicted on charges of embezzlement and breach of trust in the course of business, to 8 months in prison with 2 years of probation.

Regarding the charge of embezzlement in the course of business, Judge Han stated, "He embezzled by spending attorney fees for a personal criminal case with the victim corporation's funds, and despite the amount being considerable, he did not receive forgiveness from the victim corporation."

However, he explained the sentencing reason by saying, "Considering that the defendant has no prior criminal record exceeding a fine."

Regarding the charge of breach of trust in the course of business, Judge Han acquitted him, stating, "It is difficult to consider that it was proven beyond a reasonable doubt based solely on the evidence submitted by the prosecution."

Seo served as the vice president of a corporation from 2016 to 2018 and was investigated by the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office on charges of improperly acquiring merit and performance bonuses and using corporate funds for private purposes such as at entertainment bars. He was indicted for using corporate funds as attorney fees.

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