Two Women Legally Detained for Threatening to Expose Extramarital Affairs

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Ju Cheol-in] On the 20th, Judge Oh Gyu-seong of the Changwon District Court Criminal Division 1 sentenced A (37), who was tried for jointly blackmailing a public official by exploiting their weakness to demand repayment of debt, to 8 months in prison and ordered immediate detention.

A was accused of threatening B, a public official at the Gyeongnam Provincial Office with whom he had an inappropriate relationship, to repay a debt of 36 million won in September 2018 by using the fact that B had received money from a construction contractor, but was indicted without detention as the attempt was unsuccessful.

He reportedly threatened B four times via phone calls and text messages, saying, "If you do not respond that you will repay the debt, I will expose the inappropriate relationship and the fact that you received money from the client."

Judge Oh stated, "Although A and others have belatedly shown remorse, the motive and method of the crime are very malicious, making imprisonment unavoidable."

Judge Oh also sentenced another woman, who was a guarantor for A's debt and involved in the blackmail, to 8 months in prison and ordered her immediate detention.

Earlier, the court had recognized that B, who was threatened by A, received 20 million won from the contractor (bribery) and had been given a suspended sentence for the prison term.