Caught by Undercover Police Officer During Investigation
Busan District Court Sentences Defendant to Six Months in Prison
A man in his 40s has been sentenced to prison for attempting to sell a replica firearm, falsely claiming it was a real pistol, to a police officer who was conducting an investigation.
A past case in Gijang County, Busan, where a bank robber disguised a water gun as a pistol by covering it with a black plastic bag. Gijang Police Station, Busan.
According to the legal community on October 11, the Busan District Court Criminal Division 10 (Judge Heo Sungmin) sentenced Mr. A to six months in prison on charges including fraud and violation of the Act on the Safety Control of Firearms, Swords, and Explosives.
In June of last year, Mr. A purchased a replica firearm in Daegu that closely resembled a revolver in both material and shape. The following month, he met Mr. B, whom he had become acquainted with while serving time in prison, in a storage facility in Busanjin District, Busan, and showed him the item. Mr. A told Mr. B, "This is a senior's pistol, and I am trying to sell it for 25 million won," adding, "If you find a buyer, I will give you a brokerage fee of 5 million won."
Several months later, in March of this year, Mr. B contacted Mr. A, saying he had found someone interested in purchasing the pistol. The two met again two months later at a warehouse in Sasang District, Busan. At that time, Mr. A claimed, "It is a real pistol, but the cylinder and hammer need to be modified," and offered to arrange for a firearms modification expert if he received a 1 million won advance payment. Mr. B then transferred the advance payment to Mr. A, claiming he had received it from Mr. C, who had expressed interest in buying the pistol. However, the supposed buyer, Mr. C, was actually a police officer attempting to apprehend Mr. A through a sting operation.
Unaware of this, Mr. A, along with his accomplice Mr. D, who was posing as the owner of the pistol, met Mr. C at the warehouse in Sasang District on May 26. At that time, Mr. A and his group told Mr. C that a down payment of 10 million won was required to complete the firearm modification, but Mr. C postponed the payment, suggesting they discuss the payment method further. After confirming the details of the crime and the identities of those involved, the police arrested Mr. A and his associates three days later.
The court of first instance stated, "The defendant attempted to sell a replica firearm that was nearly indistinguishable from a real pistol to deceive the buyer," and pointed out, "Given the nature and circumstances of the crime, the offense is serious, and he reoffended during a repeat offender period." Accomplice Mr. D was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for one year.
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