Couple Tried to Extort Money from Bar Customer by Claiming Pregnancy

A couple who attempted to extort money by threatening a customer, claiming that the woman was pregnant with his child, has been sentenced to a suspended prison term and a fine.

On July 29, Chief Judge Cho Gukin of the Ulsan District Court Criminal Division 5 announced that he had sentenced a man in his 30s, identified as A, to six months in prison with a two-year suspension, and a woman in her 20s, identified as B, to a fine of 5 million won. They were prosecuted on charges of joint extortion in violation of the Act on the Punishment of Violent Acts, among other offenses.

The two, who were in a romantic relationship, were indicted on charges of demanding money from a customer, identified as C, at the bar where B worked in February of last year, claiming that B was pregnant with his child. After learning that his girlfriend B had had sexual relations with customer C, A contacted C and demanded that he "take responsibility." The couple further threatened C by saying, "We will get tested and file a complaint. Isn't it better to settle than to pay tens of millions of won? We're going to the police today, so don't regret it and call us." When C avoided contact and refused to pay, they went to C's house that night and repeatedly knocked on the front door.

The court stated, "A led the crime and has a prior conviction for attempted extortion. He has also not been forgiven by the victim." Regarding B, the court pointed out, "She committed the crime without self-restraint during the probation period for a previous fraud conviction." However, the court took into account that the crime was not completed and that the defendants are showing remorse when determining the sentences.

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