Couple Embezzling 600 Million Won in Donations for 'Delivery Dog Gyeongtae' Receives Reduced Sentence in Appeal Trial

A couple in their 30s who gained fame by carrying the stray dog 'Gyeongtae' in a delivery vehicle and received over 600 million won in donations were given reduced sentences in the appellate court.

On the 14th, the 1-3 Criminal Appeals Division of the Seoul Eastern District Court (Presiding Judges So Byeong-seok, Jang Chan, Kim Chang-hyun) sentenced former delivery worker A (34) to 1 year and 6 months in prison and his girlfriend B (39) to 3 years in prison on charges of fraud and violation of the Act on the Collection and Use of Donations. In the first trial, they were sentenced to 2 years and 7 years in prison, respectively.

Delivery dog Kyungtae
[Image source=Instagram capture, Yonhap News]

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They were prosecuted for receiving about 610 million won in donations from 12,808 followers through the Instagram account 'Delivery Dog Gyeongtae' between late March and early April last year, claiming "We need treatment costs for the heart disease of our pet dogs 'Gyeongtae' and 'Taehee'" and "I cannot work in delivery due to a car accident." They used the donations to pay off their debts or gamble. They ignored police investigation requests and lived on the run, but were eventually caught after six months.

A attracted attention by carrying a Maltese dog named 'Gyeongtae' in the delivery vehicle he drove. At one point, CJ Logistics, where A had worked, appointed Gyeongtae as an 'Honorary Delivery Worker.' Also, A claimed that Gyeongtae was a stray dog, but this was false; it was later revealed that Gyeongtae was a pet dog that B had raised since 2013.

The court recognized only B as guilty for about 483.2 million won out of the approximately 610 million won of embezzled donations, based on the fact that B mainly managed the social networking service (SNS) account for fundraising, communicated directly with followers, and that most of the donations were deposited into A’s account and then immediately transferred to B’s account.

The court explained the sentencing by considering "the fact that they reached settlements with some victims and deposited the amount of damages in escrow, and that they donated to an animal protection association."

Meanwhile, Gyeongtae and Taehee were rescued by KDS Korean Dogs (Rainbow Shelter), an animal protection center for stray animals, and were later given new names, Ddoli and Janggun.

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