'Risk of Escape and Evidence Destruction' Main Perpetrator of Guri Jeonse Fraud Arrested... Accomplice Dismissed

The main perpetrator of a jeonse fraud case that occurred in Guri-si, Gyeonggi Province, and other areas of the Seoul metropolitan area has been arrested.

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On the 26th, the Uijeongbu District Court Namyangju Branch issued an arrest warrant for Mr. A, who was identified as the main suspect, citing concerns about flight risk and evidence destruction. The court dismissed the arrest warrants for two accomplices, stating that "they have stable residences and have cooperated sincerely with the investigation."

Earlier, the Guri Police Station had requested arrest warrants for three individuals, including Mr. A, on charges of fraud and other offenses.

Complaints had been filed since early this year from villas and other properties they leased, stating, "It is the maturity date, but the jeonse deposit has not been returned." According to the investigation by the Guri Police Station, the officetels and villas registered under Mr. A's name were found to number in the hundreds across Seoul, Incheon, and other areas.

It was investigated that there are about 500 houses under Mr. A's name alone, and including houses under the names of other accomplices, the total reaches approximately 900. Most of these houses are so-called "empty jeonse" properties, where the jeonse deposits received from tenants were used to pay the purchase price, resulting in an inability to return the deposits now.

Mr. A is believed to have leased buildings in various regions and colluded with local real estate agents to provide rebates and recruit landlords. The number of real estate agents involved in this case is in the hundreds, and the police have booked about 60 people after considering the degree of involvement and illegality.

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