'Handed Acquaintance Over to Cambodian Crime Ring for Detention' 20s Sentenced to 10 Years in First Trial

A group of individuals in their twenties who handed over a victim to a Cambodian voice phishing crime syndicate, resulting in the victim's confinement after refusing to participate in a scam, have been sentenced to prison in the first trial.

Embassy of Cambodia located in Phnom Penh. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On October 22, the 29th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Eom Gipyyo) sentenced Shin (age 26), who was charged with enticing and transferring a person overseas, to 10 years in prison. Park (age 26) and Kim (age 27), who were tried on the same charges, received sentences of 5 years and 3 years and 6 months in prison, respectively.

The court stated, "If the victim in this case had not been rescued in time, it is difficult to estimate how long the confinement would have lasted or the extent of additional psychological and physical suffering the victim would have endured. The defendants made no significant effort to help the victim recover and did not receive forgiveness from the victim."

They were accused of deceiving victim A, who had refused their proposal to commit fraud, by telling him, "We are pursuing a tourism business in Cambodia. If you go and bring back a contract, we will clear your debt," and then handing him over to members of a local crime syndicate.

According to investigations, members of the syndicate confined A in a criminal compound near the Cambodia-Vietnam border and used his bank account for their crimes. After A's account was frozen, they reportedly showed him videos of other victims being tortured and threatened him, saying, "Contact your parents."

It was also discovered that Shin and his accomplices threatened A's parents, saying, "Send us money and we will get A out." A, who had been held captive for over 20 days, was rescued with the help of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Cambodia.

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