Former CEO, who embezzled 6.6 billion won of company money after being gaslighted by an acquaintance, receives a reduced sentence to probation on appeal

3 years in prison in the 1st trial → reduced sentence to probation in the 2nd trial... Court: “I was psychologically dominated for 8 years”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Bitna Kim = A former CEO of a home appliance company who stole about 6.6 billion won of company money and donated it to a virtual shaman after being gaslighted (psychologically controlled) by an acquaintance, had his prison sentence reduced to a suspended sentence at the appeals court.

According to the legal community on the 4th, Criminal Division 4-1 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Kim In-gyeom, Seong Ji-yong, and Jeon Ji-won) overturned the original sentence of 3 years in prison for Mr. A, the former CEO of a home appliance company who was recently indicted on charges of embezzlement under the Aggravated Punishment for Specific Economic Crimes Act, and sentenced him to 3 years in prison and 4 years of probation.

The court explained that the sentencing took into account the fact that Mr. A was thoroughly psychologically dominated by a couple of acquaintances for eight years.

The court added, "After Mr. A became aware of the fact that he had been subjected to so-called gaslighting, he wrote several written reflections admitting the crime," and added, "He compensated for the damage by repaying the stocks of the victim company he owned in rem, and the victim company expressed its intention not to punish Mr. A."

Mr. A is accused of embezzling 6.587 billion won in company money after receiving instructions from Jo Mal-rye, a shaman introduced by his ex-wife's acquaintance couple, to "bring money from the company because you need money to offer to the altar."

However, the shaman in question was a fictional character created by an acquaintance couple, and the couple deceived Mr. A by communicating through text messages as if they were shamans.

The acquaintance and his wife were arrested and indicted on charges of fraud and blackmail under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes and were each sentenced to eight years in prison in the first trial last July.