Prosecutors Arrest and Indict Shaman for 600 Million Won Investment Fraud in Conspiracy with Cousin

Police Secure Custody Through Supplementary Investigation in Case Referred Without Detention
Most Victims Are 20s Early Career Workers

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] A shaman who conspired with her cousin posing as a businessman to embezzle investment funds worth 600 million won has been brought to trial.

Initially, the police referred the shaman to prosecution without detention, but the prosecution conducted a full reinvestigation, uncovered clear evidence of conspiracy, detained the shaman, and investigated additional criminal charges.

On the 19th, the Criminal Division 1 of the Western Branch of the Busan District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kang Sang-mook) indicted the shaman, Ms. A (59, female), on charges of fraud and detained her.

According to the prosecution, Ms. A is accused of conspiring with her second cousin, Mr. B, between 2017 and 2020 to embezzle 600 million won in investment funds from seven investors.

Mr. B, who pretended to be a successful businessman, persuaded victims to invest in a non-existent business. He told them, "My cousin sister living in Busan is a shaman with spiritual powers. Let's ask about the business fortune." Then, Ms. A deceived hesitant investors by giving false fortunes, saying, "The business fortune of both is very good. Mr. B is a successful businessman and currently has great luck. If you do business together, you will succeed."

In particular, they initially had the victims speak with Ms. A over the phone to hear detailed fortunes, then brought the victims to Ms. A for a ritual (gut), and the embezzled investment funds were found to have been used for personal debt repayment and other purposes.

Earlier, the police had referred Ms. A to the prosecution without detention at the end of September.

Mr. B, who has already been indicted, claimed during the investigation that he acted alone, while Ms. A asserted her innocence, stating that she did not even know some of the victims.

However, through supplementary investigations, the prosecution confirmed that Mr. B, the cousin, operated the business by deceiving investors without any of his own capital and using the embezzled money to cover other expenses, and that Ms. A gave the same fortune readings to all investors introduced by Mr. B, fully aware of this.

Additionally, analysis of their financial transaction records revealed that some of the money embezzled by Mr. B from the victims was regularly transferred to Ms. A, indicating profit sharing between the two.

Ultimately, the prosecution uncovered evidence that Ms. A intimidated or persuaded victims who intended to file complaints against her, applied for an arrest warrant, and actively demonstrated the necessity of detention by having a representative victim accompany the court to testify directly during the warrant hearing. Consequently, on the 30th of last month, an arrest warrant for Ms. A was issued.

Even after that, the prosecution directly investigated one of the victims who had hesitated to file a complaint, in addition to the six who initially accused Ms. A, and identified additional criminal charges involving 40 million won in damages.

A prosecution official stated, "Most of the victims are young adults in their 20s preparing for employment or starting businesses. The defendant cunningly exploited their desire to rely on shamanistic beliefs due to anxiety about the future."

He added, "The Western Branch of the Busan District Prosecutors' Office will continue to strictly deal with crimes that infringe on the livelihoods of socially vulnerable groups."

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