Bosung Livestock Cooperative Wooji Theft Case, Compensation Lawsuit Victory Ruling

Maintenance Plant Wooji Theft Case Results in Over 3.9 Billion Won 'Damage Compensation' Victory

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] In the verdict trial of the theft case of beef tallow at the Bosung Livestock Cooperative's tallow factory, Bosung Livestock Cooperative won a large-scale damages claim lawsuit against Company D and will receive 3,938 million KRW in damages.

According to Bosung Livestock Cooperative, suspicious circumstances of theft by the transporter during the transportation process of tallow, which began in June 2015, were discovered. To secure evidence, they continuously tracked the transporter and in December of the same year, caught the transporter in the act of stealing tallow and reported the case to the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency, which was the starting point of the incident.

Subsequently, the first trial began as a criminal case at the Gwangju District Court against Company D, which acquired the stolen goods. However, the first trial criminal court ruled not guilty for Company D, which caused Bosung Livestock Cooperative, along with all former members and executives, to feel disheartened and submit an appeal to the Gwangju High Court along with a petition from the members.

As a result of the second trial, Company D was found guilty of acquiring stolen goods through professional negligence, and the damages in the criminal case were estimated at approximately 616.1 million KRW. Although Company D filed an appeal to the Supreme Court, it was dismissed, allowing the civil lawsuit to proceed.

Based on the criminal case ruling, Bosung Livestock Cooperative proceeded with a civil lawsuit against Company D, claiming damages totaling 4,689 million KRW, including principal of approximately 369.6 million KRW and interest of 990 million KRW, and won the first trial.

Thereafter, Company D appealed to the High Court in the second trial, and although a mediation request was made through lawyers from both sides, Bosung Livestock Cooperative rejected it.

Subsequently, the trial was concluded by the court's own authority on April 22, 2022, at the Gwangju High Court with a (former) conciliation recommendation decision, confirming a total of 3.8 billion KRW by court ruling, including 1.7 billion KRW in accrued interest and 2 billion KRW in principal. Additionally, 52 million KRW in trial costs will be received, resulting in a total victory amount of 3,938 million KRW, which will be paid by June 30.

Bang Bok-cheol, chairman of Bosung Livestock Cooperative, said, “Once we receive the damages, we will transparently use them after going through the board of directors and general meeting, and use them for the stable operation of the cooperative and member return projects. The results will be transparently communicated to members through various meetings and documents.”

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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