"Promised a Job": First Trial for Man in His 40s Who Sent Bank Account Holders to Cambodia

A recruiter who deceived individuals by promising them jobs, handed over their bank accounts used for illegal activities to a local criminal organization in Cambodia, and embezzled several hundred million won has been brought to trial.

On April 15, the 13th Criminal Division of the Gwangju District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Jeongho) held the first trial for Mr. A (45), who was indicted on charges including enticing persons abroad for criminal purposes, fraud, violation of the Electronic Financial Transactions Act, and instructing others to destroy evidence, as well as for his accomplice, Mr. B (45).

Front view of Gwangju District Court.

원본보기 아이콘

Mr. A, who recruited people to lend their bank accounts for illegal use, was charged with conspiring with a voice phishing organization based in Cambodia in July last year. He deceived Mr. C, who had lent his name for a bank account, by promising him a job and sending him to Cambodia.

According to the investigation, Mr. A and his group lured account holders to Cambodia out of fear that the account holders might embezzle the criminal proceeds themselves. Once in Cambodia, the account holders were either detained or coerced into becoming accomplices. In fact, Mr. C, who was persuaded by Mr. A and traveled abroad, was detained locally but reportedly managed to escape.

Mr. A is also accused of purchasing bank accounts registered under a defunct corporation and handing them over to a criminal organization, as well as receiving and embezzling about 630 million won transferred from 19 voice phishing victims. When the investigation began, he instructed his friend Mr. B to hide the mobile phone he regularly used, attempting to destroy evidence.

At the trial, Mr. A admitted to the charge of instructing the concealment of evidence, but sought to evade responsibility for the fraud and enticement charges, claiming, "The accomplices led the crime, and I only assisted." He also expressed his intention to change his court-appointed attorney.

The court plans to continue the trial on June 8, summoning two accomplices, identified by Mr. A and others as the main perpetrators, as witnesses for questioning.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.